Gait analysis can distinguish patients with and without union of tibial shaft fractures as early as six weeks after surgery

This research study investigated whether gait analysis could predict nonunion in tibial shaft fractures. Researchers used OpenGo sensor insoles to collect gait data from patients at various points post-surgery. Results showed that gait parameters significantly differed between patients with and without nonunion as early as six weeks post-surgery, outperforming radiographs and patient-reported outcome measures in early nonunion detection. This early detection, the study suggests, could lead to earlier interventions and improved outcomes. Limitations exist, as the study notes that the findings are not applicable when nonunion is caused by other factors like infection or implant failure.