It’s Not Too Late for a Better Outcome.
When a broken bone in your hand or wrist heals incorrectly (malunion and nonunion fractures), or fails to heal at all, the pain, weakness, and deformity can last for years. We specialize in advanced reconstructive surgery to correct these complex healing problems, offering a chance to reduce pain and restore proper function.
When “Healed” Doesn’t Mean “Fixed”.
Living with the consequences of a fracture that didn’t heal properly is deeply frustrating. You may have been told that “nothing more can be done,” yet you continue to struggle with daily pain, stiffness, and a hand that doesn’t work or look the way it used to. These are complex problems, but it may be worth exploring to see if there is a surgical solution that could offer significant improvement.
Diagnosing the Problem with Your Recovery
Malunion (Healed in the Wrong Position)
- A malunion occurs when a fracture has successfully healed, but the bones have fused in an incorrect position. The bone may be angled, rotated, shortened, or have a visible bump. This poor alignment can disrupt the smooth mechanics of the nearby joints, often leading to a crooked appearance, stiffness, weakness, and diminished function.
Nonunion (Failed to Heal)
- A nonunion is when a broken bone fails to heal into a single, stable bone. Despite months of time and treatment, the bone fragments remain separate. This results in persistent pain, swelling, and a feeling of instability or motion at the fracture site, as the bone is not strong enough to bear a load.
Sophisticated Surgery to Rebuild and Stimulate Healing
Corrective Osteotomy for Malunion
- To fix a bone that has healed crookedly, a Corrective Osteotomy is performed. This is a precise, controlled surgical procedure where Dr. French carefully re-breaks the bone, restores its proper anatomical alignment, and then rigidly fixes it in the correct position using modern plates and screws.
Surgery for Nonunion with Bone Grafting
- To treat a bone that has failed to heal, the surgeon must create a new environment that is conducive to healing. This involves surgically removing any unhealthy tissue from the fracture site, providing rigid stability with plates and screws, and—most importantly—adding a Bone Graft. A bone graft introduces new, healthy bone cells and the biological scaffolding needed to kick-start and successfully complete the healing process.
Hemi-hamate Arthroplasty
- This is a highly specialized reconstructive procedure for a devastating fracture-dislocation of a finger’s middle (PIP) joint. It involves taking a small piece of another hand bone (the hamate), complete with its cartilage surface, and transplanting it to rebuild the destroyed joint surface of the finger. This is an example of the sophisticated solutions available for the most complex post-traumatic problems.
The Unique Challenges of Revision Surgery
Corrective surgery for a malunion or nonunion involves significant technical challenges compared to initial fracture repair. These procedures require navigating scar tissue, altered anatomy, and compromised bone healing. Dr. French applies his background as a Harvard-trained reconstructive plastic surgeon and microsurgeon to address these complexities, focusing on the intricate requirements of both bone and soft tissue reconstruction.
