Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia: a retrospective review

Treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia has been notoriously very difficult. This retrospective review of 36 cases (33 patients) seen at the Shriners Hospital (Springfield, Massachusetts Unit), from 1927 to the present evaluates the different forms of treatment and their long-term results. Adequate information was obtained from 30 patients (33 cases) to include them in this study. Twenty-nine patients (32 cases) underwent 154 surgical procedures, of which 138 were to achieve union of the pseudarthrosis (4.3 per case), and one parent could not recall how many surgeries were performed on her son. Sixteen surgeries were performed to correct leg-length discrepancy. Four cases healed with bracing alone. Of the 30 patients (33 cases), 14 patients (15 cases) required amputation. These patients had undergone multiple attempts at union (average, 4.7 procedures). Patients who went on to union averaged 2.8 surgical procedures. Even with newer techniques available to the trained pediatric orthopaedist, treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia remains an elusive problem.