Infected tibial nonunions (1981-1995). The evolution of change.

Between 1981 and 1995, 150 consecutive cases of middiaphyseal, infected nonunions of the tibia were treated prospectively on the author's osteomyelitis service. Thirty-nine (78%) of the 49 patients seen between 1981 and 1986 and 94 (93%) of the 101 patients seen 1986 through 1994 underwent successful salvage protocols with a minimum followup of 5 years. The difference in outcomes seen in the two groups eloquently reflects the emergence of specific pharmaceutic, technical, and biologic advances earmarking these two, distinct eras of care.