The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of autologous cancellous bone grafting (ABG) for the treatment of long bone fracture non-unions. Patients who were treated with ABG for fracture non-unions of the lower extremities were identified from our prospectively entered database. Non-union was defined as failure of the fracture to unite within a period of 9 months. Demographics, comorbidities, medications, complications and surgical outcomes were all recorded and subsequently analysed. Chi square test was used to analyse the results.

In total 82(54 male) patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 43.6 years (range 18–78). Ten patients were diagnosed with femoral and 72 with tibial fracture non-unions. Fifty three (64.6%) were open fractures at presentation. In the tibial non-union group, initially, 67 fractures were stabilised with IM nailing and 5 with plating. During revision surgery, 33 patients underwent exchanged nailing and ABG whereas 34 received ABG without revision of the metal work.

All five tibial plantings required re-plating and ABG. In the femoral non-union group, five fractures were initially stabilised with IM nailing and the rest with plating. During revision surgery, six patients underwent change of fixation (exchange nailing) and ABG and four received only ABG. Overall 73/82 patients progress uneventfully to union and the success rate was 89%. A second and a third attempt of ABG was made for 6/86 patients (7.31%) and 2/82 patients (2.44%) respectively, till clinical and radiological union. All but one of the patients united their fractures. One patient underwent amputation due to underlying osteomyelitis.

The mean time to union following the ABG procedures was 8.4 months (range 3–18). Autologous bone grafting is an effective method of treating fracture non-unions. Success rates of as high as 89% can be achieved as seen in this series of patients.