title: Residual challenges after healing of congenital pseudarthrosis in the tibia.
abstract: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the clinical results of the Ilizarov bone transport method in the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis in the tibia. In seven patients operated on between 2.6 and 7.8 years of age, primary healing of the pseudarthrosis was achieved in all patients (after additional bone grafting in two patients). Within a followup of 6 to 8 years, major complications occurred in all patients. Five refractures occurred, and in one patient the refracture did not heal. At the last followup, axial deformities and an abnormal malalignment test with lateral mechanical axis deviation of 10 mm or greater was found in all patients. Three patients had leg length inequality of 20 mm or more. The Ilizarov bone transport method is useful in achieving primary healing in congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia, but residual challenges with secondary reconstructive surgery caused by refracture and postoperative deformities must be expected.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. leif.pal.kristiansen@rikshospitalet.no
authors.forename: Leif Pål
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steen
authors.forename: Terje
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terjesen
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012008:Recurrence; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging