PRE-OPERETIVE LOW SERUM ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE AN ADDITIONAL RISK FACTOR FOR NON-UNION OR DELAYED-UNION TIBIA

Tibial shaft fracture is the most commonly occuring long bone fracture. These fractures are more prone to complications such as delayed or non-union as compare to other due to certain factors. There are many systemic and local factor which predict for such complications. In systemic factors, apart from nutritional status, drinking alcohol and smoking habbits of patients, there is no specific factor which indicate the patient’s bone healing ability (Osteoblastic activity). Pre-operative serum ALP level was estimated in 124 healthy adult patients with fresh closed traumatic diaphysial fractures of tibia and correlated with end results of healing. The proportion of delayed or nonunion was statistically significantly higher in group A (preoperative serum ALP level <80) as compared to group B (preoperative serum ALP level >80). So estimation of serum ALP level can be used as an additional prognostic indicator for the risk of delayed or nonunion in fracture shaft of tibia