Pseudarthrosis Health Dictionary

A term meaning false joint, used to describe an operation in which the ends of the 2 opposing bones in a joint are removed and a piece of tissue is fixed in the gap as a cushion.

The term also describes a rare childhood condition in which congenital abnormality of the lower half of the tibia leads to spontaneous fracture.

(nearthrosis) n. a ‘false’ joint. Congenital pseudarthrosis occurs in childhood, when an apparent fracture in the tibia or clavicle is followed by non-*union. A pseudarthrosis can form in adulthood when a fracture fails to unite and the bone ends are separated by fibrous tissue, which allows some movement across the fracture site.