Revision lapidus arthrodesis: rate of union in 17 cases

This multicenter study retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 15 consecutive patients (17 feet; mean patient age, 54.1 years), who underwent revision "bone-block" Lapidus arthrodesis for a symptomatic nonunion. In all cases but one, the procedure was performed with ipsilateral autogenous bone grafting. All cases used either screw fixation or a combination of screw and plate fixation. Patients were monitored for a minimum of 6 months postoperatively to assess clinical and radiographic union. Successful union was seen in 14 (82%) of the 17 feet that underwent revision. Nonunion was documented in 3 (18%) cases. These results support a favorable rate of union with the described surgical technique. Chi-square tests of association were used to determine whether gender, fixation, bone stimulation, and smoking were predictive of or associated with bone healing. Active smoking in the perioperative period was a predictor of nonunion (P = .05). Based on these findings, the authors recommend aggressive preoperative counseling, and smoking should be considered a relative contraindication to revision surgery.