Subsidence

Last revised by Joachim Feger on 9 Jan 2022

In a medical sense, subsidence refers to the collapse or settling of bone located immediately next to an implantable device in direction of the loading force. It can lead to a loss of the desired postoperative result and to further complications 1.

Epidemiology

Associations

Subsidence can be associated with the following conditions 1-4:

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Plain radiographs usually show an intrusion of the graft into the adjacent bone e.g. vertebral body, talar bone, humeral or femoral shaft. Evaluation methods include measurements that vary depending on the site of subsidence and comparisons between immediate postoperative radiographs and subsequent radiographs 1.

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads