Abstract: Introduction: Infected non-unions of the tibia pose significant challenges due to problems like osteomyelitis, draining sinuses, soft tissue distortion, demineralization of bone, joint stiffness, and multidrug-resistant polybacterial infection.
Material and Methods: We report the outcome of 18 patients (15 males and 3 females) with infected non-union tibia treated with a Circular ring fixator (Ilizarov). The causes were open fracture in 15 cases and infection following internal fixation in 3 cases. We assessed Ilizarov’s method in the management of infected non-union of the tibia in terms of, union rate, control of infection, and associated complications. The assessment parameters were based on the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI) criteria.
Result: 83.3% were male and 16.7% were female, the mean age was 32 ±9. The mean bone gap was 3.2±1.0. Draining sinus was present in 10 (55.6%) of the patients. Corticotomy and fibula osteotomy was performed in 14 (77.8%) of the patients. Bony union was seen in 17 (94.4%) of the patients. The mean time of union was found to be 9.7±1.7 months. The mean limb length discrepancy was 1.1±0.6 cm. A deformity angle of less than 7 degrees was present in 16 (88.9%). 15 (83.3%) patients had excellent ASAMI bone scores and the remaining 02 (11.1%) had a good score. One patient in which the union was not observed had a poor score. For the functional component, 12 (66.7%) had an excellent score, 05 (27.8%) had a good score and 01 (5.6%) with non-union of the tibia bone was found to have a poor score.
Conclusion: The Ilizarov method is a time-tested and very famous technique of control of non-union of a long bone. It lets in distraction, compression, lengthening, and correction of deformity and also allows weight-bearing and mobilization of joints. Ilizarov method is a minimally invasive, cheaper, versatile, cosmetic and 360-degree stable method. Early weight-bearing is the key factor that distinguishes it from other conventional methods of fixation infected non-union Tibia.
