title: Central grafting for persistent nonunion of the tibia. A lateral approach to the tibia, creating a central compartment.
abstract: We report the operative technique and results of a new method of central grafting for persistent nonunion of the tibial shaft. The operation is performed through a lateral approach, anterior to the fibula. Fresh autogenous bone from the iliac crest is used to form a central bridge between the tibia and fibula above, below and at the level of the nonunion. In 48 tibiae, most with long-standing nonunion and some with infection or bone defects, sound healing was obtained in 45 after one operation. Only one failure needed amputation.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Rijnberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Linge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016474:Weight-Bearing