Purpose This retrospective review follows 31 tibial nonunions
to compare union at the docking site using closed versus open
strategies. In this cohort of patients, all but five were infected
nonunions.
Methods Thirteen patients initially treated with single
compression were compared with 18 patients treated by
open revision of the docking site. In the single compression
group, an average of 6.5 cm of bone was resected and index
lengthening was 2.04. In the open revision group, a mean
of 9.4 cm was resected and the index lengthening was 1.73.
Results Consolidation at the docking site occurred in all
subjects in both groups. There was no statistical difference
between the two groups. Conclusive evidence of superiority
of one modality of treatment over the other cannot be
drawn from our data.
Conclusions The simple compression procedure requires
less invasive surgery and is probably less demanding and
more cost-effective in short transports.