The Clinical Analysis Of Treating Trauma Infected Nonunion Of Lower Limb By The Inlaied External Fixator

ObjectiveTo retrospective analysis the clinical outcome of treating trauma infected nonunion of lower limb by the inlaied external fixator.MethodA retrospective study was carried out in 62 patients who are treated with the inlaied external fixator from October 2005 to July 2008.21 male and 4 female patients in the unlengthen group that the average age is 39.6 years(from 6 to 60 years) were treated by two-stage inlaied external fixator. 32 male and 5 female patients in the lengthen group with limb shortening or bone defect from 2 to 12cm(average 4.6cm) that the average age is 32.2 years(from 13 to 61 years) were treated by three-stage inlaied external fixator.Results60 patients got bone union,and 1 patients was amputated in the two non-healing patients in the final during follow- up period(10～41months). The bone and functional results were evaluated by the classification of the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI).The unlengthen group(25):Bone results were 12 excellent,8 good,4 fair,3 poor.And functional results were 9 excellent,6 good,9 fair,1 poor.4 patients occurred pin track infection,1 patients re-fracture; The lengthen group(37):Bone results were 13 excellent,14 good,6 fair and 4 poor.And functional results were 6 excellent,18 good,8 fair and 5 poor.7 patients occurred pin track infection,2 patients re-fracture.No correlations between the outcome of treatment and specific organism of infection were found.The healing time of nonunion side in the lengthen group is shorter than the time in the unlengthen group.The fixed time correlated with operation frequency and the size of bone defect,no correlated with nonunion time.ConclusionThe infected nonunion of the lower limb can be successfully treated using the inlaied external fixator to compress,lengthen and angle and the length of correction.This method is simple surgery,and satisfied with the results.Lengthening can promote bone healing of nonunion side,and the method of open dressing is more easily accepted by doctors and patients.