Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)

  Abstract

  Background: Pseudoarthrosis of the tibia poses one of the most challenging treatment

  problems in all of orthopedics. The goal of the study was to assess the clinical

  outcome of intramedullary rod fixation in its treatment.

  Methods: The results of the management for nine patients with pseudoarthrosis of

  the tibia with IM rod fixation were reviewed retrospectively between 1986 - 2006.

  The mean duration of follow up was 8.95 years (range, 3.5 months to 14.2 years). The

  mean age of the patients at the latest follow up was 13.5 years (range, 9 to 23 years).

  Results: Initial :::union::: of the fracture site occurred in seven of nine patients with

  the mean duration of 7.6 months (range, 3.5 to 15.5 months). Five patients had limb

  length discrepancy with the mean of 7.2 cm (range, 1.5 - 12 cm). Three of them were

  treated with tibia lengthening procedure with the Ilizarov method. One had a peroneal

  nerve palsy postoperatively. Two patients had refracture treated with casting

  and rod exchange. Electrical stimulation was applied in two patients but it was impossible to predict how much it played a role in the :::union:::.

  Conclusion: IM rod fixation technique has a satisfactory functional outcome. The

  technique has a high level of acceptance by parents and patients. It should be recommended

  as the treatment of choice for the management of congenital pseudoarthrosis

  of the tibia.