Electrical stimulation in the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia

A treatment regime using electrical stimulation in association with a variety of surgical procedures has improved the prognosis in congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia--one of the most challenging of all orthopaedic disorders. The technique consists of correction of the tibial deformity, intramedullary fixation and cancellous bone grafting, augmented by electrical stimulation using an implanted bone-growth stimulator. Experience with 27 pseudarthroses in 25 patients is presented; of those, 20 have joined. The cases have been reviewed and the causes of failure analysed. These results offer encouragement to the orthopaedic surgeon treating this difficult condition.