Treatment of pediatric tibial shaft nonunion using ipsilateral free non-vascularized fibular graft.

Abstract

Although tibial shaft fractures are the third most common long bone fractures in children after the forearm and femur, nonunion of these fractures are rare in the pediatric population. Despite seldom seen, tibial nonunion is very complex and it is also a devastating complication of tibial fracture especially when infected. Numerous methods have been employed to treat pediatric tibial nonunion, but there is no consensus. Here, we present a case of a child with right tibial shaft fracture nonunion. We treated this patient with ipsilateral free non-vascularized fibular graft. Both the nonunion site and fibular donor site united well with good function in the injured extremity and no adverse events. We recommend the use of ipsilateral free non-vascularized fibular graft for the treatment of pediatric tibial shaft nonunion.