Ilizarov external fixator for the treatment of nonunion following long bone osteomyelitis in children

Purpose of the study The aim of this study was to emphasize the importance of the distraction os teogenesis technique in the treatment of post-osteomyelitis nonunion. We re port 12 cases. Patients and methods Mean patient age was 9.5 years. There were 7 cases of nonunion of the femur and 5 involving the tibia. Nonunion was associated with 5.9 cm shortening in 10 cases, 8.4 cm circumferential bone defect in 1 case, shortening and b one defects in 6 cases, and shortening and joint deformities in 2 cases. Results Consolidation was obtained in 11 cases with an average delay of 11.6 months . Infection was eradicated in 75 per cent of the cases. Average residual sh ortening was 0.4 cm. Joint deformities and axial deviations were corrected at the same time in all cases. Discussion The advantages of the Ilizarov technique are well known for the treatment o f such deformities and musculoskeletal system disorders subsequent to osteo myelitis: nonunion, infection, shortening, joint deformities and malunion.