Statistics show that 15-20% of fractures do not heal properly due to malunions and nonunions of bones. The causes of these healing defects are often complex to treat.  

The Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center addresses these issues through highly specialized techniques in reconstructive microsurgery, osteotomies and living bone transfers.  

In this video, Drs. Samir Mehta and Scott Levin, Co-Directors of the Penn Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center, discuss the unique systematic approaches and tools they use at Penn. 

“Usually, the problem is in one of four domains: Infection, the blood supply to the bone, the biomechanics of the fracture, and the patient’s own host factors,” Dr. Samir Mehta explained. “Our approach is to really look at all four of those things and address those in a very systematic fashion.” 

Dr. L. Scott Levin, after detailing the specialized techniques offered at the Center, concluded: “We [Penn] have very, very powerful tools that are not available in other centers around the country.”

Related Links:

Four Factors for Fracture Healing: Treatment of Nonunion and Malunion
Complex Limb Reconstruction at the Penn Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center
Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery at Penn Medicine