Augmentation plate fixation for the treatment of femoral and tibial nonunion after intramedullary nailing.

Abstract

Nonunion after intramedullary nailing of femoral and tibial fractures, although infrequent, remains a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. Augmentation plate fixation can be a reasonable choice in this situation. From 2003 to 2005, 38 patients (25 femoral nonunions and 13 tibial nonunions) were treated after intramedullary nailing with augmentation plate fixation, leaving the nail in situ, with or without autogenous cancellous bone graft. Patients were followed for at least 1 year postoperatively. All 25 femoral nonunions healed with solid union (100% union rate), but 2 of 13 tibial nonunions remained symptomatic and did not achieve union (84.6% union rate) at a mean 4.78 months postoperatively (range, 1-6 months). No serious complications were encountered at 1-year follow-up. We suggest augmentation plate fixation for femoral and tibial nonunion after intramedullary nailing.