Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis complicating nonunion and segmental defects of the tibia with open cancellous bone graft, posterolateral bone graft, and soft-tissue transfer

Forty-two consecutive patients with chronic osteomyelitis complicating persistent tibial nonunion and chronic osteomyelitis complicating tibial fracture with segmental bone loss were treated from January 1979 through December 1986 using a protocol including either open cancellous bone grafting (Friedlaender-Papineau technique), posterolateral bone grafting (Harmon technique), or local or microvascular soft-tissue transfer before cancellous bone grafting. Each patient had undergone surgical debridement and intravenous antibiotic therapy before inclusion in this study. Patients were classified using a staging system which included consideration of anatomic location of the infection within the bone; extent of bone involvement; quality of soft-tissue envelope and vascular integrity; and generalized host status. The overall success rate for arresting the osteomyelitis and healing the nonunion was 62% (26/42). If the six patients who refused additional bone graft surgery, the one patient who represented poor patient selection, and the patient who refused ankle arthrodesis are eliminated, the success rate for healing of the nonunion and resolving the osteomyelitis in this difficult patient population is: open bone cell graft, 66% (12/18); soft-tissue transfer 87.5%, (7/8); and posterolateral bone grafting, 87.5% (7/8). Use of a standardized classification system allows comparison of treatment results. Adequate debridement is crucial in treating osteomyelitis complicating established long bone fractures and nonunions. Determining the extent of debridement has proven to be the single most difficult aspect technically. Patient selection and pretreatment education are crucial. Caring for these patients is not only labor intensive and demanding of personnel and hospital resources, but demanding of the patients as well.