Delayed healing may cause persistent tenderness, swelling or pain with loading. Diagnosis uses clinical examination and serial imaging rather than one early X-ray. Treatment may involve longer protection, modifying weight-bearing, addressing biological risk factors, bone stimulation or revision fixation and grafting in selected cases.
Stable fixation and appropriate loading support healing. Pain relief does not prove that bone is united, and walking beyond the prescribed limit can overload an osteotomy before radiographic consolidation.
Smoking or nicotine exposure is a modifiable concern.
Poor bone quality, metabolic disease and inadequate nutrition can influence healing.
Instability, infection or premature loading can disrupt the healing environment.
A fall or sudden increase in pain after trauma should be reported.
Do screws guarantee that the bone will heal?
No. Fixation creates stability, but healing still depends on biology, alignment, loading and absence of infection.