Introduction: In this study, we proposed a three-stage treatment protocol for recalcitrant distal femoral nonunion and aimed to analyze the clinical results.
Materials and methods: We retrospective reviewed 12 consecutive patients with recalcitrant distal femoral nonunion undergoing our three-stage treatment protocol from January 2010 to December 2014 in our institute. The three-stage treatment protocol comprised debridement of the nonunion site, lengthening to eliminate leg length discrepancy, deformity correction, stabilization with a locked plate, filling of the defect with cement spacer for inducing membrane formation, and bone reconstruction using a cancellous bone autograft (Masquelet technique) or free vascularized fibular bone graft. The bone union time, wound complication, lower limbs alignment, amount of lengthening, knee range of motion, and functional outcomes were evaluated.
Results: Osseous union with angular deformity <5° and leg length discrepancy <1 cm were achieved in all the patients. The average amount of lengthening was 5.88 cm (range 3.5-12 cm). Excellent or good outcomes were obtained in 9 patients.
Conclusions: Although the current study involved only a small number of patients and the intervention comprised three stages, we believe that such a protocol may be a valuable alternative for the treatment of recalcitrant distal femoral nonunion.
Keywords: Bone defect; Bone reconstruction; Distal femoral nonunion; Soft-tissue lengthening.