Analysis of long tubular bone fracture healing in 37 patients with osteofluorosis

Abstract

Objective To study the correlations between bone fracture types and healing time in patients with osteofluorosis. Methods Thirty-seven patients with osteefluorosis and long tubular bone fracture were diagnosed in accordance with radiogram retrospectively. The fractures were divided into two groups: sclerotic and osteoporotic. Twenty four fractured patients with non osteofluorosis were included in the study as controls. All of the patients had operation(open reduction and nickelclad internal fixation). Fracture healing in patients with sclerotic and osteoporotic groups was compared with the control group after operation. Results There were notable differenees(F=4.30,P< 0.05) in term of fracture healing time among the three groups [sclerotic group:(18.4±5.3)weeks; osteoporotic group: (24.5±5.1)weeks; control group: (17.6±3.8)weeks]. Notably, there were significant differences between the osteoporotic and control groups(q=2.34,P<0.05), and between sclerotic and osteoporotic gronps(q=2.51, P<0.05). The healing time of the osteoporotic group was longer than that of sclerotic group. The constituent ratios of fracture healing in sclerotic, osteoporotic and control groups were 73.1% (19/26) ,54.5% (6/11),75.0% (18/24) respectively, and the differences among the three groups were statistically significant(X2=3.67,P<0.05). The healing rate of the osteoporotic group was lower than that of sclerotic and control groups(X2=3.12, 3.36, all P< 0.05). The constituent ratios of healing in the sclerotic, osteoporotic and control groups were 26.9% (7/26),45.5% (5/11),25.0%(6/24), respectively, and there differences among the three groups were statistically significant (X2=4.07 ,P<0.05). The delayed healing rate of the osteoperotic group was higher than those of the sclerotic and control groups(X2= 3.87,3.95, all P<0.05). Conclusions Fracture healing time of osteoporotic osteofluorosis after fracture is longer than normal, and the cause might be the loss of bone mass. Key words: Osteofluorosis; Fracture healing; Outcome assessment