Background: Failure of the fixators is a challenging, especially in the presence of osteoporosis, bone defect, pin track infection and joint stiffness. This study aims at evaluating the functional outcomes of the lower limb proposed two-stage management of non-union after failed ring external fixation.Patients and Methods: 15 patients (six females) with age range 22-65 years enrolled in this study. Four had femoral fractures and eleven with tibial fractures. All were due to high-energy trauma and all were open ones (3 grade (I), 8 grade (II) and 4 grade (III)). Categorised AO classification, 5 type (A), 4 type (B) and 6 type (C). They initially treated by ring external fixators and had radiological signs of non-union. Treatment involved removal of external fixators, pin track and blood tests until no active infection. Non-union managed by refreshing the fracture ends, opening the medullary canal, packing the non-union with autogenous bone grafts then realigning the fracture properly and stabilizing it with locked plate or interlocking nail.Results: Average duration of nonunion 9.8 months. Average delay prior to osteosynthesis after removal of external fixation 15 days. All non-unions healed on an average 5.2 months. According to the Karlstrom-Olerud scores, final functional outcome score was excellent 7cases, good 5 cases, accepted 2 cases and poor one case.Conclusions: Two-stage treatment of non-union of long bone after ring fixation is an effective tool and may be a favorable option with low risk of complications and a high level of functional outcomes.

Objective This study aims to evaluate the result of a two‐stage (delayed conversion) management of nonunion after failed external fixation of the lower limb. Methods A case series of 25 patients (19 males and six females) enrolled in this study between February 2008 and October 2016, mean age 33.4 years (range, 22–65 years). Eight had femoral fractures, and 17 had tibial fractures. All were due to high‐energy trauma and were open fractures. All cases were presented by non‐union after external fixation in the lower limb long bones. All patients were managed by two stages (delayed conversion) osteosynthesis. The patients have been assessed for rate and time for union, range of motion of adjacent joints, the Modified functional outcome score of Karlstrom‐Olerud, and Trauma outcomes measure score. Results The mean follow‐up was 36.5 months (range 24–54 months). Twenty‐two cases (88%) were fully united on an average of 5.3 months. According to the Karlstrom‐Olerud scores, the final functional outcome score was excellent 12 cases, good 9 cases, accepted 2 cases, and poor in two cases. As regards the trauma outcome measure score, the mean TOM after 3 months was 26.1 (25.3–27.3), 30.4 (29.3–32.1) after 12 months, and 33.4 (32.3–40) after 24 months. Conclusions The technique of two‐stage treatment of nonunions of long bone after external fixation is a successful tool to achieve bony union. It could be a favorable option with a low risk of complications and a high level of functional outcomes.

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