If your broken finger refuses to heal, even after wearing the appropriate splint during your original treatment, you might have a delayed union fracture. Although most bone fractures heal normally and quickly, some fractured bones don't heal properly or in a reasonable time frame. In this case, you'll need to undergo additional orthopedic treatment to encourage your finger to heal. Here's how a delayed union fracture affects you and what you can do to treat it. 

What Exactly Is a Delayed Union Fracture?

In order for fractured bones to heal, they must generate, or grow, new bone tissue and fuse together. Depending on the location of the broken bone, person's age, and overall health, most fractures mend between 3 to 12 weeks. A delayed union fracture takes longer to heal. A number of factors can influence how delayed union fractures heal, including your blood.

Like all tissues of the body, bones require a healthy blood supply to function. Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, and other chemicals to bones. If your broken bone doesn't receive all that it needs, it struggles to rebuild and mend itself. 

Your diet also plays a role in how well your fractured finger heals. Bones require vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium to grow healthy and strong. If you don't eat dairy, vegetables, and other foods that contain these nutrients, your bones can weaken, including your fractured finger bone.

It's important that you remedy the issues above to help your fractured finger bone heal properly.

How Do You Treat a Delayed Union Fracture?

One of the things you can do is speak to a nutritionist about your diet. A nutritionist can help you put together meals that include minerals that rebuild your bones and strengthen your blood supply. You also want to drink plenty of water to keep your bone cells hydrated and healthy enough to regenerate.

Also, consult with an orthopedist about your finger. A bone specialist can examine your finger with X-rays and blood tests to see if its infected. Some bone fractures can become infected with bacteria. Bacteria can enter the fractured bone from an outside source like your skin, or the organisms can travel from an infection in your body to your bones via your bloodstream. If you do have a bone infection, it's essential that you receive antibiotic treatment immediately.

Your treatment may also include wearing a stronger splint to hold your finger bones in place. If a splint isn't an option, an orthopedist may insert tiny screws and a plate into the fractured bones to help them mend. The overall treatment for your delayed union fracture can vary, so keep this in mind when you consult with a bone specialist.

To learn more about a delayed union fracture, contact an orthopedic specialist today.

For more information, you will want to contact a company such as Ultimate Sports.