Cause and Treatment of Extraarticular Proximal Tibial Nonunion

Sung Soo Kim; Sung Keun Shon; Kyu Yeol Lee; Chul Hong Kim; Myung Jin Lee; Min Soo Kang; Lih Wang; Im Sic Ha

doi:10.12671/jkfs.2008.21.4.279

Journal List > J Korean Fract Soc > v.21(4) > 1037660

Go to TopGo to Top Go to BottomGo to Bottom

TOOLS

Kim, Shon, Lee, Kim, Lee, Kang, Wang, and Ha: Cause and Treatment of Extraarticular Proximal Tibial Nonunion

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2008; 21(4): 279-285.

Published online: 31 October 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2008.21.4.279

Cause and Treatment of Extraarticular Proximal Tibial Nonunion

Sung Soo Kim, M.D., Sung Keun Shon, M.D., Kyu Yeol Lee, M.D., Chul Hong Kim, M.D., Myung Jin Lee, M.D., Min Soo Kang, M.D.^*, Lih Wang, M.D., Im Sic Ha, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.

^*Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dong-Eui Medical Center, Busan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lih Wang, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, 3-1, Dongdaesin-dong, Seo-gu, Busan 602-715, Korea. Tel: 82-51-240-2593, Fax: 82-51-254-6757, libi33@dau.ac.kr

Received 13 March 2008 Accepted 6 October 2008

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

To analyze the factors affecting the nonunion of extraarticular proximal tibial fracture and the outcome of nonunion treatment.

Materials and Methods

We investigated 51 cases of extraarticular proximal tibial fractures from June 2002 to May 2006. The nonunion rate was assessed in relation to several risk factors and the treatment outcome of nonunion using plate fixation with bone graft was assessed by Klemm and Börner functional rating system.

Results

6 cases of nonunion (11.8%) was noted among 51 cases, and the risk factors examined, OTA A3 comminuted fracture was associated with a high nonunion rate with statistical significance and initial bone graft had a significant effect in bone healing. Excellent and good results were obtained in 5 cases (83.3%) and bone union was achieved in all nonunion cases.

Conclusion

Comminution was found to be an important factor affecting the nonunion in extraarticular proximal tibial fracture, and bone graft in primary operation could reduce the chance of nonunion. Accurate plate fixation with bone graft is a reliable option in nonunion treatment.

Keywords: Proximal tibia, Extraarticular fracture, Nonunion

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

A 27-year-old male involved in a incar traffic accident suffered a closed comminuted (OTA A3) proximal tibial fracture.

(A) Plain radiographs after application of hybrid type external fixator with autoiliac bone graft.

(B) Plain radiographs shows bone union at postoperative 9 months.

Fig. 2

(A) A 55-year-old male involved in a pedestrian traffic accident suffered a open comminuted (G-A Grade II, OTA A3) proximal tibial fracture.

(B) Wound debridement and hybrid type external fixator was performed.

(C) Postoperative 8 months, plate fixation with autoiliac bone graft was performed for proximal tibial nonunion.

(D) Bone union was achieved at 7 months after second operation with satisfactory functional result.

Table 1

Functional results of the nonunion patients by Klemm and Börner classification

Table 2

Data analysis of proximal tibial nonunion patients

^*TA: Traffic accident, ^†OTA: Orthopedic Trauma Association, ^‡C: Closed fracture, ^§O: Open fracture.

Table 3

Statistic analysis of nonunion rate related to risk factors

^*TA: Traffic accident, ^†OTA: Orthopedic Trauma Association.

References

1. Blick SS, Brumback RJ, Lakatos R, Poka A, Burgess AR. Early prophylactic bone grafting of high-energy tibial fractures. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1989; 240:21–41.

2. Borrelli J Jr, Prickett W, Song E, Becker D, Ricci W. Extraosseous blood supply of the tibia and the effects of different plating techniques: a human cadaveric study. J Orthop Trauma. 2002; 16:691–695.

3. Boyd HB, Lipinski SW, Wiley JH. Observations on non-union of the shafts of the long bones with a statistical analysis of 842 patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1961; 43:159–168.

4. Bradley GW, Mckenna GB, Dunn HK, Daniels AU, Statton WO. Effects of flexural rigidity of plates on bone healing. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1979; 61:866–872.

5. Carpenter CA, Jupiter JB. Blade plate reconstruction of metaphyseal nonunion of the tibia. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1996; 332:23–28.

6. Cattaneo R, Catagni M, Johnson EE. The treatment of infected nonunions and segmental defects of the tibia by the methods of Ilizarov. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1992; 280:143–152.

7. Charnley J. Fractures of the shaft of the tibia. the closed treatment of common fractures. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone;1961. p. 209–249.

8. Ebraheim NA, Skie MC, Jackson WT. The treatment of tibial nonunion with angular deformity using an Ilizarov device. J Trauma. 1995; 38:111–117.

9. Edwards CC, Jaworski MF, Solaria J, Aronson BS. Management of compound tibial fractures using external fixation. Am Surg. 1979; 45:190–203.

10. Gardner MJ, Toro-Arbelaez JB, Boraiah S, Lorich DG, Helfet DL. Surgical treatment and outcomes of extraarticular proximal tibial nonunions. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2008; 128:833–839.

11. Gershuni DH, Halma G. The A-O external skeletal fixator in the treatment of severe tibia fractures. J Trauma. 1983; 23:986–990.

12. Helfet DL, Shonnard PY, Levine D, Borrelli J Jr. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis of distal fracture of tibia. Injury. 1997; 28:Suppl 1. A42–A47.

13. Kim KH, Wee KH, Back SH. A clinical study of non-union and delayed union. J Korean Orthop Assoc. 1983; 18:921–929.

14. Klemm KW, Börner M. Interkocking nailing of complex fractures of the femur and tibia. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1986; 212:89–100.

15. Laflamme GY, Heimlich D, Stephen D, Kreder HJ, Whyne CM. Proximal tibial fracture stability with intramedullary nail fixation using olique interlocking screws. J Orthop Trauma. 2003; 17:496–502.

16. Lee HJ, Park YU. Treatment of proximal tibial non-union after IM nailing in conjunction with anterior buttress plating. J Korean Fract Soc. 2004; 17:138–141.

17. Lee HS, Kim JJ, Oh SK, Ahn HS. Treatment of distal tibial metaphyseal fracture using MIPPO technique. J Korean Foot Ankle Soc. 2004; 8:166–170.

18. McLaren AC, Blokker CP. Locked intramedullary fixation for metaphyseal malunion and nonunion. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1991; 265:253–260.

19. Moon MS, Woo YK, Ha KY, Yeon G. A clinical analysis of nonunion of the long bones in lower extremity. J Korean Orthop Assoc. 1989; 24:15–26.

20. Morandi M, Zembo MM, Ciotti M. Infected tibia pseudarthrosis. A 2-year follow up on patients treated by Ilizarov technique. Orthopedics. 1989; 12:497–508.

21. Mueller CA, Eingarner C, Scheitmueller E, et al. Primary stability of various forms of osteosynthesis in the treatment of fractures of the proximal tibia. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005; 87:426–432.

22. Nork SE, Barei DP, Schildhauer TA, et al. Intramedullary nailing of proximal quarter tibial fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2006; 20:523–528.

23. Oh JK, Oh CW, Jeon IH, et al. Percutaneous plate stabilization of proximal tibial fractures. J Trauma. 2005; 59:431–437.

24. Paley D, Chaudray M, Pirone AM, Lentz P, Kautz D. Treatment of malunions and malnonunions of the femur and tibia by detailed preoperative planning and the Ilizarov techniques. Orthop Clin North Am. 1990; 21:667–691.

25. Phieffer LS, Goulet JA. Delayed unions of the tibia. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006; 88:206–216.

26. Stegemann P, Lorio M, Soriano R, Bone L. Management protocol for unreamed interlocking tibial nails for open tibial fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 1995; 9:117–120.

TOOLS

Similar articles