Treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of tibia with the circular frame technique

We treated nine patients with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia consecutively by a modification of the Ilizarov (circular frame) technique. Seven patients had had several previous operations, and two patients had had none. After resecting of the pseudarthrosis and the surrounding pathologic periosteum, we performed acute shortening and compression at the level of resection, together with simultaneous lengthening of the proximal tibia. Union was achieved in all cases. With this technique, not only the mechanical but also the biologic problems are addressed. As compared with other methods, the circular frame technique also offers the possibility of correcting angulation and limb length discrepancy.