Descriptive study of outcome of antibiotic cement-impregnated intramedullary nail in treatment of infected non-union of weight bearing long bones

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background: </strong>Infected non-union of tibia and femur is a debilitating disorder for patient as well as challenging task for treating surgeon. Conventionally treatment of infected non-union is a two staged procedure. But antibiotic cement-impregnated intramedullary nailing (ACIINs) is a single staged and cost-effective procedure. Hence we intended to study the outcome of ACIIN use in infected non-union of tibia and femur.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a hospital based prospective case series type of descriptive study conducted in Department of Orthopedics, SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. We studied 35 cases of infected non-union of femur and tibia fracture with interlock nail in situ. All patients were treated with interlock nail removal, debridement and freshening of sclerosed bony ends and fixation with ACIIN. All were followed for at least 6 months for infection control and bony union and final results were evaluated by Paley’s bony criteria and functional criteria.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Infection was controlled in 94.28% cases. Bony union was achieved in 88.57% cases (19 femur and 12 tibia). Average duration for bony union was 7.3 months for femur and 8 months for tibia. According to Paley’s criteria for bony outcome and functional outcome 65.71% and 51.43% had shown excellent outcome respectively.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> ACIIN is a good modality for treatment of infected non union of tibia and femur in terms of infection control and bony union and has a good functional outcome when bone gap is less.</p>