The treatment of bone nonunion with inlaid external fixation without bone graft

Objective To explore the clinical effect of bone nonunion treated with inlaid external fixation without bone graft.Methods 226 cases of bone nonunion were pressed continuously with inlaid external fixation without bone graft.Simultaneously,deformities were corrected.The limb length shortage above 3 cm was lengthened slowly.The patients with bone exposure greater than 3 cm in diameter were repaired by fascia flap.Results All patients were followed up for 12~72 months.All of bone nonunion were healed in 4~13 months,and deformities were corrected.1 case with 10 cm shortage preoperatively got recover to 3 cm shortage after therapy.2 got pin site infection and healed after treatment.Conclusions The inlaid fixator can provide continuous pressure to the end of bone nonunion,distraction for lengthening bone slowly,and mechanical stability.The patients can be treated without bone graft,which can avoid the damage of autologous bone graft and the rejection of allograft.It is simple,less invasive and provides good effect.