Evaluation of the Results of the Treatment of Tibia nonunion, Comparison of Surgery and Ilizarov Device and Segment Transfer

Introduction & Nonunion of tibia is one of the most popular complications in orthopedic surgery and there are many treatment methods for it, with their advantages and disadvantages. We try to select the best treatment method for this problem. 22 nonunions of tibia were studied, some with previous failed surgeries and some with bone defects. At first we excise all necrotic and infected tissues, then we insert ilizarov device and made osteotomy far from the nonunion site and began bone transport, 1 millimeter daily until we filled defect. All patients were male and we had no problem during transport period. Finally, all have union but 18 of them had malunion and 14need bone graft in ducking site. There was no problem in the distracting osteogenesis site of osteotomy. In all cases we saw some decrease in the movability of the ankle. In one case we had recurrent refracture and in 4 cases we have minimal (less than 2 centimeters) shortening. In general, and considering of all aspects, because in all patients finally we see union regardless of some degrees of malunion and decrease in the range of motion of ankle, they all return to their daily activities. So, it seems that ilizarov device is a good method, with low morbidity in the treatmented of nonunion of tibia.