9 Signs A Broken Bone Is Not Healing

Many of us don’t pay attention to our bones until they hurt and remind us of their existence. Every year, about 6 million people in the U.S. break a bone, with arm fractures being the most common. There are different types of fractures. Some dislocate your bone, and some cause misalignment.

However, with proper fracture care, they are supposed to heal in about six to eight weeks. Unfortunately, some fractures can heal slowly or fail to heal. Such non-healing fractures are known as “Nonunion fractures.”

Signs Your Broken Bone Isn’t Healing Properly

Here are 9 signs that your broken bone is not healing after surgery:

1. Persistent Pain: Pain lasting for weeks or months, sometimes getting worse, especially deep in the bone. It may be constant or flare up when using the injured arm or leg.
2. Swelling: Ongoing swelling that doesn’t go away.
3. Weakness: The limb feels weak even as the bone heals.
4. Trouble Bearing Weight: Difficulty putting weight on the injured bone. If it’s not a weight-bearing bone, movement may stay very limited despite following treatment and physical therapy.
5. Deformity: The bone may be bent instead of straight, sometimes creating a noticeable bump under the skin.
6. Shortened Limb: The bone may heal in a way that makes one limb feel shorter than the other.
7. Loss of Function: Difficulty using or moving the injured body part. A poorly healed leg or foot fracture may cause a lasting limp.

What Happens If a Broken Bone Doesn’t Heal Properly?

If a broken bone doesn’t heal properly, it can lead to nonunion, where the fracture fails to heal, or delayed union, where healing takes longer than expected, usually more than six months. This can cause complications such as nerve damage, permanent disability, or, in severe cases, amputation.

To diagnose nonunion, doctors use imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to check for gaps in the bone or slow healing progress.

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. To encourage healing, non-surgical options, including early weight-bearing, casting, or bone stimulation may be used. If these methods fail, surgery may be needed to realign the bone, add bone grafts, or stabilize the fracture with implants. In some cases, surgeons remove damaged bone layers to create fresh surfaces for healing. Treatment aims to restore proper bone function and prevent long-term complications.

Can You Live with A Nonunion Fracture?

Living with a nonunion fracture is possible but not recommended. It can cause serious pain, disability, and loss of function, often leading to further medical issues. Surgery is often suggested to properly heal the bone and restore complete mobility of the affected limb.

Do Broken Bones Tingle When Healing?

As nerves heal, you may feel itching or tingling around the injury, usually starting a few weeks after the fracture. This happens as new nerve endings grow. Sometimes, a broken bone can also cause numbness, tingling, or a pins-and-needles feeling, which may be a sign of nerve damage.

Ending Note

Healing a fracture is simple – just a cast and patience while your body heals itself. But sometimes, that’s not enough. If you notice any signs that your broken bone is not healing, consult your physician immediately.

Feel free to contact our board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Randy Y. Luo, MD, MBA. Call us at (713) 794-3307 or (713) 799-2300 to book an appointment.