Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia: Treatment and outcome at skeletal maturity in 10 children

Abstract

We present the clinical characteristics of 14 children with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) treated in northern Finland at Oulu University Hospital during the years 1968–1996. The incidence of CPT in northern Finland was 3.5/10⁵ during years 1962–1996, which is higher than in previous reports. The estimated prevalence of pseudarthrosis was 1.8/10⁵. The first 10 children with a mean follow-up time of 19 years from the first grafting procedure and 14 years from the last grafts, all had a solid bony union and could walk without external support at the last follow-up. The best treatment, especially in unfavorable types, seems to be a radical resection of the pseudarthrosis and reconstruction with a free vascularized fibular graft.