[Failures and limitations of the Papineau technic. A report of 54 cases]

The authors have treated 41 cases by Papineau's technique. There were 19 cases of osteitis, and 35 septic non-unions (9 in the femur, 16 in the tibia and 10 in other sites). Twenty-four cases healed, the average follow-up being one year. The causes of failure were analysed. Some are related to the technique itself - sepsis and fractures at the sites of graft removal, inadequate quantities of cancellous bon, long delay in bone union and skin problems particularly in the leg. The indications for this technique are compared with those of other techniques. It is concluded that it is a useful technique; only two patients required amputation.