[Morphologic and clinical aspects in the treatment of infected shaft pseudarthrosis]

By means of clinical and morphological findings the procedure in the treatment of infected diaphyseal non-unions is described. The necessity of adequate stabilization--especially with the help of the external fixatoris pointed out. The infected cortex, often as a compromise, has to be left in place in order to give a foundation for periosteal bone grafts. Such cortical bone which is not vascularized and prevents the infect from subsiding has to be removed in a second step from a medullary approach. The defect is then filled up with autologous cancellous grafts. In the forearm the whole infected area of bone can be removed and replaced by a cortico-cancellous graft which is stabilized by internal fixation with a plate.