Medulloscopy for sepsis or nonunion: Early clinical experience with the tibia and femur.

We report the clinical use of "medulloscopy" for the visualization and irrigation of sepsis or nonunion of the tibia and femur in 7 cases. Included were 2 cases of aseptic femoral nonunion, 1 infected femoral nonunion with chronic osteomyelitis, 2 cases of healed tibia fracture with chronic osteomyelitis, 1 aseptic nonunion of the tibia, and 1 case of tibial osteomyelitis secondary to intravenous drug use. Visualization of the nonunion site or pathologic lesion was achieved in 86% of cases (6 of 7) and additional diagnostic information was obtained by medulloscopy in 86% of cases (6 of 7). A representative case is presented. Medulloscopy appears to be clinically useful for the treatment of sepsis or nonunion of the tibia and femur when access to the intramedullary canal is necessary.