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Review Article
Treatment Strategy of Infected Nonunion
Hyoung-Keun Oh, M.D.
Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2017;30(1):52-62.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2017.30.1.52
Published online: January 20, 2017

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.

Correspondence to: Hyoung-Keun Oh, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, 170 Juhwa-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang 10380, Korea. Tel: +82-31-910-7968, Fax: +82-31-910-7967, osd11@paik.ac.kr

Copyright © 2017 The Korean Fracture Society. All rights reserved.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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  • The management of infected nonunion is based on a detailed evaluation of patients, the involved bone and soft tissues, stability of fixation, and type of bacterial pathogens. Preoperative surgical planning and strategies for each step is mandatory for the successful treatment of infected nonunion. The radical debridement of infected tissues, including the unstable implant, is one of the most important procedures. Adequate soft tissue coverage should be considered for the appropriate management of infection; a reconstructive procedure and stable skeletal stabilization by internal or external fixation is also necessary later. A restoration of bone defects and bony union can be accomplished with bone grafting, distraction osteogenesis, vascularized fibular grafting, and induced membrane technique.
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  • 4. Ha SH. Treatment of Infected Nonunion. J Korean Fract Soc, 2007;20:206-214.
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Fig. 1

A 33-year-old male suffered from open femoral shaft fracture associated with complete femoral artery (arrow).

jkfs-30-52-g001.jpg
Fig. 2

(A) A temporary external fixation was carried out after wound debridement and vascular reconstruction. (B) External fixation was converted to bridging-plate fixation after soft tissue healing.

jkfs-30-52-g002.jpg
Fig. 3

(A) Plain X-ray taken 6 months after the injury shows delayed healing of the fracture without implant loosening. Tissue biopsy from the nonunion site revealed an infection, but there was no significant instability of the fracture, and infection was localized around the fracture site. After meticulous debridement of the infected tissue, autogenous cancellous bone graft and plate augmentation was performed. (B) Plain X-ray taken 12 months after revision surgery shows a solid bony union without recurrence of infection.

jkfs-30-52-g003.jpg
Fig. 4

Open type IIIc distal tibia and fibular fracture of a 31-year-old male was treated with vascular reconstruction and temporary external fixation.

jkfs-30-52-g004.jpg
Fig. 5

(A) Internal fixation with intramedullary nail was carried out after soft tissue healing. (B) Plain X-ray taken 7 months after the injury shows atrophic nonunion, and there was pus discharge from the previously open wound on the medial side.

jkfs-30-52-g005.jpg
Fig. 6

(A) Under the diagnosis of infected nonunion, radical debridement of the infected tissue was performed and the fracture was stabilized by an external fixator. The bone defect after debridement was filled by an anti-cement bead. (B) An X-ray from the final follow-up showed a solid bony union after autogenous bone graft and plate fixation.

jkfs-30-52-g006.jpg
Fig. 7

(A) Clinical photography and X-ray show open comminuted proximal tibia fracture of a 72-year-old male. (B) Due to associated multiple injury, the fracture was stabilized by a temporary external fixator.

jkfs-30-52-g007.jpg
Fig. 8

(A) An X-rays and clinical photography taken 5 months after the injury showed infected nonunion after definite plate fixation with soft tissue defect. (B) The radical debridement of infected bone and soft tissue was carried out. The bone defect was filled by an anti-cement spacer (induced membrane technique) and soft tissue defect was covered by a free flap.

jkfs-30-52-g008.jpg
Fig. 9

An X-ray from the last follow-up showed solid bony union after autogenous bone graft and plate fixation after infection control.

jkfs-30-52-g009.jpg

Figure & Data

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    Citations

    Citations to this article as recorded by  
    • Systematic Diagnosis and Treatment Principles for Acute Fracture-Related Infections
      Jeong-Seok Choi, Jun-Hyeok Kwon, Seong-Hyun Kang, Yun-Ki Ryu, Won-Seok Choi, Jong-Keon Oh, Jae-Woo Cho
      Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2023; 36(4): 148.     CrossRef
    • The Antibiotic Cement Coated Nail and Masquelet Technique for the Treatment of Infected Nonunion of Tibia with Bone Defect and Varus Deformity: A Case Report
      Min Gu Jang, Jae Hwang Song, Dae Yeung Kim, Woo Jin Shin
      Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2022; 35(1): 26.     CrossRef

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    Treatment Strategy of Infected Nonunion
    Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image
    Fig. 1 A 33-year-old male suffered from open femoral shaft fracture associated with complete femoral artery (arrow).
    Fig. 2 (A) A temporary external fixation was carried out after wound debridement and vascular reconstruction. (B) External fixation was converted to bridging-plate fixation after soft tissue healing.
    Fig. 3 (A) Plain X-ray taken 6 months after the injury shows delayed healing of the fracture without implant loosening. Tissue biopsy from the nonunion site revealed an infection, but there was no significant instability of the fracture, and infection was localized around the fracture site. After meticulous debridement of the infected tissue, autogenous cancellous bone graft and plate augmentation was performed. (B) Plain X-ray taken 12 months after revision surgery shows a solid bony union without recurrence of infection.
    Fig. 4 Open type IIIc distal tibia and fibular fracture of a 31-year-old male was treated with vascular reconstruction and temporary external fixation.
    Fig. 5 (A) Internal fixation with intramedullary nail was carried out after soft tissue healing. (B) Plain X-ray taken 7 months after the injury shows atrophic nonunion, and there was pus discharge from the previously open wound on the medial side.
    Fig. 6 (A) Under the diagnosis of infected nonunion, radical debridement of the infected tissue was performed and the fracture was stabilized by an external fixator. The bone defect after debridement was filled by an anti-cement bead. (B) An X-ray from the final follow-up showed a solid bony union after autogenous bone graft and plate fixation.
    Fig. 7 (A) Clinical photography and X-ray show open comminuted proximal tibia fracture of a 72-year-old male. (B) Due to associated multiple injury, the fracture was stabilized by a temporary external fixator.
    Fig. 8 (A) An X-rays and clinical photography taken 5 months after the injury showed infected nonunion after definite plate fixation with soft tissue defect. (B) The radical debridement of infected bone and soft tissue was carried out. The bone defect was filled by an anti-cement spacer (induced membrane technique) and soft tissue defect was covered by a free flap.
    Fig. 9 An X-ray from the last follow-up showed solid bony union after autogenous bone graft and plate fixation after infection control.
    Treatment Strategy of Infected Nonunion

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