Most serious complication of fracture of a long bone is: September 2005

Ans. A: Fat Embolism A. Early complications: I. Local: Vascular injury causing haemorrhage, internal or external Visceral injury causing damage to structures such as brain, lung or bladder Damage to surrounding tissue, nerves or skin Haemahrosis Compament syndrome/Volkmann's ischaemia Wound Infection, more common for open fractures II. Systemic: Fat embolism Shock Pulmonary/venous thromboembolism B. late complications: I. Local: Delayed Union Non-union Malunion Joint stiffness Contractures Myositis ossificans Avascular necrosis Algodystrophy/Sudeck's atrophy Osteomyelitis Growth disturbance or deformity II. Systemic: Gangrene, tetanus, septicemia Osteo-ahritis