Study on management of infected nonunion of long bones by bifocal osteosynthesis of ilizarov’s principle with the limb reconstruction system

Abstract

Infected nonunion is one of the most challenging limb threatening orthopaedic complications in sense of treatment and management where considerable morbidity are observed. Thus the patients are having social, financial, physical, and mental impacts Significant progress has been made in the management of infected nonunion in the last decade with appropriate pre-operative evaluation and treatment strategy. The main objective of this study to find out the effect of segmental transport in the management of infected, non-union of long bones by Ilizarov’s concept using the Limb Reconstruction System (LRS). A total of 16 cases included in this study where 14 and 2 were males and females respectively. All the infected non-union of long bones cases was included in this study. Bone healing and functional results were evaluated. Most of the patients are in between the age groups of 31 and 50. While observing the site of the non-union cases, femer found maximum with 9 cases followed by tibia and humerus with 6 and one cases respectively. Reunion was successful in all cases thereby 10 cases classified as excellent; 3, 2 and 1 cases as fair, good and poor respectively. In this study, three major complications including shortening, knee stiffness and axial deviation were observed during post operative and follow-up periods. The method of treatment of infected non-union by the monolateral external fixator with a predictable healing of non-union and control of infection is well shown in this study. Careful preoperative planning, appropriate surgical techniques and adequate follow-up, will definitely make this method a very successful one.