Treatment of bone and soft tissue defects in infected nonunion.

In the treatment of infected pseudarthroses the general principles of osteitis treatment are applied. This includes radical excision of pseudarthrotic and infected bone tissue, and of diseased surrounding soft tissue. External fixation devices are the preferred method of stabilization of the bone. Based on the data of a retrospective study of 31 Papineau procedures, 65 local flap transfers, and 46 free flap transfers we found that the Papineau procedure works in minor bone and soft tissue defects. Unstable scar formation is a major disadvantage of this method. Local muscular flaps are indicated in the treatment of soft tissue defects in the proximal and medial portions of the lower leg. A prerequisite for free flap transfers is the availability of trained personnel and suitable technical equipment. The option is limited by the patient's vascular situation. This kind of tissue transfer seems to be superior to other methods. For the substitution of bone defects corticocancellous bone transplantation may be used. A promising alternative method to deal with extensive bone defects is osteogenesis produced by callus distraction.