OUTCOME OF AUTOLOGOUS BONE MARROW INJECTION AT FRACTURE SITE IN DELAYED UNION OF LONG BONE: A SERIES OF 10 CASES

US FDA1 states non-union as when minimum of 9 months has elapsed since injury and fracture shows no progressive signs of healing for 3 months. However, there is no consensus regarding time period for delayed union. Various new non-operative or percutaneous methods for treating delayed union and non-union have been described like stem cell therapy, 2 bone morphogenic protein-2 injection(3) at fracture site, platelet rich plasma. 4 In our study, bone marrow injection were done at fracture site in cases of delayed union, 12 weeks postoperative period for tibia, humerus and femur fracture, and at 8 weeks for both bone forearm fracture. A total of 10 patients were selected over a period of 2 years at Dr. D.Y. Patil Hospital, Navi Mumbai. Post injection, the limb was immobilized for 7 days followed by joint mobilization and weight bearing as tolerated. Out of 10 patients, 9 showed signs of union at 12 weeks post injection with one tibia shaft fracture, which failed to unite and required revision surgery. We recommend bone marrow injection for delayed union as a simple and cost-effective technique with good results.