Treatment of refractory bone nonunion with cancellous bone autograft plus external fixator / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the curative effect of granulated cancellous bone autograft in treatment of refractory bone nonunion after limited contouring of bone ends. Methods Between 2003 and 2006, 13 patients with refractory bone nonunion were treated with external fixation and granulated cancellous bone autograft after limited contouring of bone ends. Results The mean follow-up period was 22.6 months (19-30 months), which showed that all patients gained bone union and resumed com-plete weight loading or previous job at final follow-up. The mean fixation time of external fixators was 10.6 months (7-18 months). The intermittent or persistent pin-track infection occurred in eight patients and relieved by pin-track care and oral or parenteral antibiotics, with no infection after removing external fixator. Conclusion The granulated cancellous bone autograft after limited contouring of bone ends is an effective method for treatment of refractory bone nonunion.