Infected nonunion of the femur.

From 1988 to 2000, 21 patients with infected nonunion were treated by wide resection of the nonunion site and fixation with Ilizarov's external ring fixator. Of the 21 cases, 2 are still under treatment. 18 cases resolved. In two cases iterative fracture occurred, which was successfully treated by internal fixation. One case treated by external fixator failed; any further attempts at surgery were abandoned, and the patient was put in a brace. The ring fixator enabled a sufficiently wide resection to remove the infection. It also provided stability for long periods of time, unrestricted weight bearing, and, after resolution, the same set up was used to restore the femur to its original length by corticotomy and distraction according to Ilizarov.