[Current role of decortication in problems of bone healing]

The authors present the results of 101 osteo-periostal decortications. This technique was used in 72 cases of aseptic non-union, 15 cases of infected non-union and 14 cases with malunion. Stable fixation was carried out using a plate or an external Judet fixator. An autologous cancellous or cortico-cancellous bone graft was added in 12 cases. Union was achieved in 98 of 101 patients after an average of 45 days to 4 months, depending on the localisation and the etiology involved. The 3 failures were due to technical errors or presence of an unfilled bone defect. Osteoperiostal decortication is a reliable and reproductible solution to many problems of malunion or non-union. We consider bone grafting to be necessary only in patients with a major bone defect.