The treatment of low-grade septic non-unions
Verdoni, F.; D'Amato, R.D.; Mangiavini, L.; Lombardo, M.D.; Peretti, G.M.
Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents 31(4 Suppl 1: 135-140
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-974X PMID: 29188196 Document Number: 691857
Non-union (or pseudoarthrosis) is defined as a fracture that fails to consolidate after 6 months from the trauma. Current conservative treatments consist of biological (i.e. with calcium, Vitamin D) and mechanical stimulation. Moreover, surgical approaches include the use of endomidollar nail osteosynthesis, compression plates that are often associated with bone grafts. External fixation is a valid surgical alternative especially in case of septic non-unions. Indeed, compression-distraction osteosynthesis results in a significant improvement in bone vascularisation and exerts a powerful osteoinductive stimulus on the non-union site. In this review, we will describe a cohort of patients affected by low-grade septic non-unions and treated with external fixation.