If you break a bone and do not receive a cast to immobilize it, the lack of stability typically forces your body into one of two severe healing failures known as malunion or nonunion. Malunion occurs when the body successfully glues the fracture back together but does so at an improper or crooked angle, leaving you with a permanent deformity, restricted movement, and potential chronic pain that usually requires a surgeon to rebreak and reset the bone later. Conversely, nonunion happens when the constant movement of the unsupported limb completely disrupts the delicate cellular repair process, tearing apart new tissue and preventing the bone ends from ever fusing back together. When this constant shifting occurs, the body eventually abandons the healing attempt altogether, capping the raw bone ends in scar tissue and leaving you with a highly painful, unstable false joint right in the middle of the limb. Music composed by Bert Cole (bitbybitsound.com)