title: An alternative method for the treatment of nonunion of the tibia with bone loss.
abstract: In this retrospective study we evaluated the method of acute shortening and distraction osteogenesis for the treatment of tibial nonunion with bone loss in 17 patients with a mean age of 36 years (10 to 58). The mean bone loss was 5.6 cm (3 to 10). In infected cases, we performed the treatment in two stages. The mean follow-up time was 43.5 months (24 to 96). The mean time in external fixation was 8.0 months (4 to 13) and the mean external fixator index was 1.4 months/cm (1.1 to 1.8). There was no recurrence of infection. The bone evaluation results were excellent in 16 patients and good in one, while functional results were excellent in 15 and good in two. The complication rate was 1.2 per patient. We conclude that acute shortening and distraction osteogenesis is a safe, reliable and successful method for the treatment of tibial nonunion with bone loss, with a shorter period of treatment and lower rate of complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical School of Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey. senc64@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eralp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ozden
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocaoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001850:Bone Diseases, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome