Complications of Fractures

Key points

• • Fractures can be complicated early by bleeding and shock, by injury to nearby nerves and vessels, and by infection in open fractures.
• • Fat from the marrow can enter the blood and lodge in the lungs and brain, called fat embolism, especially after long-bone fractures.
• • Tight swelling in a closed muscle compartment can cut off the blood supply, called compartment syndrome, which threatens the limb.
• • Late problems of healing include joining in a bad position (malunion), failure to join (non-union), and slow union.
• • Other late problems include death of a bone fragment from a lost blood supply (avascular necrosis) and stiffness of nearby joints.