Nonunion of metacarpal fractures associated with NSAID use: a case report.

Abstract

The association between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and impairment of fracture healing has been reported in the orthopedic literature. Multiple laboratory and clinical studies have shown a correlation between NSAIDs and fracture nonunion.We present a series of two patients with fourth metacarpal fractures treated with surgery whose course was complicated by nonunion and fixation failure. Neither fracture healed successfully despite multiple revision surgeries until the patients discontinued their high-dose NSAID use. Each patient was followed for 6 months after their final surgery following cessation of NSAID use to confirm bony healing without any complications.While NSAIDs are frequently utilized for postoperative pain control, they have been implicated in impaired fracture healing and subsequent fracture nonunion.In addition to other etiologies such as infection and metabolic abnormalities, physicians should pay attention to a patient's NSAID use as a potential cause for fracture nonunion.

View details for DOI 10.1097/RC9.0000000000000019

View details for PubMedID 41938447

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC13046025