Factors influencing fracture healing

Abstract

Fracture is one of the commonest bone problems occurring as a result of injury in normal bone or as a consequence of bone weakening. It leads to morbidity and mortality in the young and old in particular in relation to hip fractures and is an important public health issue. Fracture healing is a continuous process that can be divided into three partially overlapping phases: inflammation, repair and remodelling. The success of the repair phase depends on mechanical conditions in the fracture healing zone and the outcome of fracture healing depends on various patient and fracture factors. An understanding of the complex physiological processes involved in bone healing is essential to enable fracture treatment by allowing the practitioner to create the optimal conditions for repair of the bone and to avoid potential complications. This review focuses on the physiology of fracture healing and the main factors affecting it. © 2013, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.