Medulloscopy for sepsis or nonunion: Early clinical experience with the tibia and femur.

Abstract

We report the clinical use of "medulloscopy" for the visualization and irrigation of sepsis or nonunion of the tibia and femur in 7 cases. Included were 2 cases of aseptic femoral nonunion, 1 infected femoral nonunion with chronic osteomyelitis, 2 cases of healed tibia fracture with chronic osteomyelitis, 1 aseptic nonunion of the tibia, and 1 case of tibial osteomyelitis secondary to intravenous drug use. Visualization of the nonunion site or pathologic lesion was achieved in 86% of cases (6 of 7) and additional diagnostic information was obtained by medulloscopy in 86% of cases (6 of 7). A representative case is presented. Medulloscopy appears to be clinically useful for the treatment of sepsis or nonunion of the tibia and femur when access to the intramedullary canal is necessary.