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Abstract

Objectives: 1. To assess the results of infected nonunion of tibia by Ilizarovtechniques. 2. To ascertain the incidence of complications and advise methods to prevent them.3. To determine various risk factors which contribute to these complications. Study Design: Thisdescriptive case series. Setting: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dow University of HealthSciences/ Civil Hospital Karachi. Period: 1st March 2010 to 28th Feb. 2013. Methods: A total of 30patients with infected nonunion of tibia with or without shortening and bone loss was includedin the study. Patients lying in supine position, after spinal anesthesia, radical debridement weredone and all previous infected implants and necrotic bone removed, pre-assembled ilizarovframe was applied with the help of four or five rings, each ring was fixed with k-wires andschanz pins. Olive wires were used where interfragmentary compression, correction of axialdeviation of fragment, in osteoporotic bones, transport of fibular fragment or more stability wasrequired. Results: Results were divided into bony and functional parts by ASAMI. We achieveexcellent to good bony result in 86.66% (26/30) of cases and excellent to good functional resultin 76.66% (23/30) of cases. Conclusion: It is concluded that bony and functional outcome ofinfected nonunion of tibia treated with ilizarov ring fixator is satisfactory. Although its applicationis lengthy but once applied patients get benefits, they can start walking with full weight bearing,limb length equality and soft tissue coverage achieved, so we recommend its applications insuch type of cases.