Treatment Outcomes of Congenital Pseudarthrosis of Tibia Treated with Ilizarov

Abstract

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) is a rare but very difficult issue to deal. There is dysplasia of the tibia which leads to progressive anterolateral bowing, pathological fracture, nonunion and limb length discrepancy. The Ilizarov method works on the basic principle of distraction osteogenesis. It has advantage of deformity correction, compression at the nonunion site, correction of limb shortening, and early mobilization and weight-bearing.  This retrospective study was done at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Chandka Medical College Hospital Larkana @ SMBB Medical University from January 2018 to March 2025. Data was collected in terms of age, gender, side involved, limb length discrepancy (LLD), previous treatment history, time to union, and complications were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation, while categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages. The study included 15 patients with a mean age of 7.9 ± 3.1 years. There were 9 males (60%) and 6 females (40%). Right-sided involvement was observed in 8 patients (53.3%) and left-sided involvement in 7 patients (46.7%). Mean preoperative LLD was 4.6 ± 1.4 cm. Ten patients (66.7%) had undergone previous interventions. Union was achieved in 13 patients (86.7%). Pin tract infection occurred in 5 patients (33.3%), wire loosening in 3 patients (20%), wire breakage in 2 patients (13.3%), and refracture in 2 patients (13. 3%).The Ilizarov technique is an effective treatment modality for congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia with a high union rate and satisfactory correction of limb length discrepancy. Refracture remains the most significant long-term complication and necessitates prolonged follow-up.