An analysis of the actual cost of tibial nonunions.

The financial and medical records of 11 patients diagnosed with a tibial nonunion were evaluated in order to assess the costs associated with the care of this clinical entity. The initial tibia fractures were seen at Hermann Hospital (Houston, Texas) between April 1991 and June 1993. We included only those patients who had a diagnosis of tibial shaft nonunion which we defined as a tibial fracture which was without radiographic or clinical evidence of progressive healing 6 months after the initial injury. A total of 9 patients were available for evaluation and 2 were lost to follow-up.