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Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics
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Congenital Pseudarthrosis of Tibia



- See:
        - Anterolateral Bowing
        - Neurofibromatosis

- Discussion:
    - is rare, occurring equally in girls and boys;
    - disease is almost always unilateral;
    - acute frxs occur during first 2 yrs of life, usually shortly after birth.
    - associated w/ anterolateral bowing and neurofibromatosis;
    - neurofibromatosis is present in approx 40-50% of pts w/ pseudarthrosis, while about 10% of pts w/ neurofibromatosis will have pseudarthrosis of tibia;
            - dysplastic type is characterized by narrowing, sclerosis, and obliteration of the medullary canal.
            - cystic type shows no narrowing but instead has cyst-like areas which resembles fibrous dysplasia microscopically;
                  - in this type, leg appears normal early in course, w/ frx and pseudarthrosis occurring after 5 years of age;


- Non Operative Treatment:
    - patellar tendon bearing - total contact orthosis, which is used to try to prevent frxs or to control developing ones;


- Surgical Treatment Options:
    - once frx ensues, treatment includes open reduction, internal fixation, & bone grafting w/ autogenous graft with or w/o electrical stimulation;
    - intramedullary rodding + bone grafting: (see osteogenic proteins)
            - has mixed results;
            - reference:
                - Extending intramedullary rods in congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.
                - Intramedullary fixation for congential pseuarthrosis of the tibia. J Baker et al.   JBJS Vol 74-A. 1992. p 161-168.
                - Treatment of Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia with Recombinant Human BMP-7 (rhBMP-7). A Report of 5 Cases.
    - limb lengthening:
    - vascularized fibular transfer:
          - may still leave the involved leg w/ potential for frx, angulation, & growth disturbance;
          - references:
                - Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. Long-term followup of 29 cases treated by microvascular bone transfer.
                - Vascularized fibular grafts in the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.
    - syme's amputation:
          - indicated for congential pseudoarthrosis with limb length inequality greater than 5 cm and or severe foot deformity;
          - presence of pseudoarthrosis by itself is not an indication for amputation;
          - note that amputation thru pseudoarthrosis may leave scars over amputation stumps, and over growth phenomena may end up requiring additional revision amputations;
          - in some cases, spontaneous union of pseudarthrosis will occur (due to total contact of prosthesis and beneficial effects of wt bearing;
          - reference:
                - The Syme amputation in patients with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.
                - Spontaneous union of a congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia after syme amputation. JT Guille et al.   CORR. No 351. p 180-185. 1998.
                - Amputation for congential pseudarthrosis of the tibia.   Indications and techniques. RE McCarthy.   CORR Vol 166. p 58-61.   1982.


                     



Congenital pseudarthrosis of the leg. Late results.

Late-onset pseudarthrosis of the dysplastic tibia.

Surgical treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.
      Umber JS, Moss SW, Colemann SS:   Clin Orthop 1982;166:28.

Pathology and natural history of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia.
      HB Boyd.   CORR Vol 166. 1982. p   5-13.

Congential pseudoarthrosis of the tibial.   A long term follow up study.
      HH Murray and WW Lovell.   CORR. Vol 166. 1982. p 14-20.

Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia. Results of Technical Variations in the Charnley-Williams Procedure

Residual challenges after healing of congenital pseudarthrosis in the tibia.

Management of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in children under 3 years of age: effect of early surgery on union of the pseudarthrosis and growth of the limb.













Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.