The impact of tibial shaft fracture nonunion on physical health was comparable with the reported impact of end-stage hip arthrosis and worse than that of congestive heart failure. Tibial shaft fracture nonunion is a devastating chronic medical condition that negatively affects both physical and mental health and quality of life.

Background Nonunion of the distal femur after lateral plating is associated with axial malalignment, chronic pain, loss of ambulatory function, and decreased knee ROM.