Stabilization and bone grafting are the basic principles in the treatment of fracture non-union, however, infection is always a concern. Percutaneous bone marrow grafting has been suggested as an alternative, which provides a source of osteogenic cells with osteoinductive effect.

This prospective study evaluates the efficacy of percutanous bone marrow grafting in patients with tibial non-union while on the waiting list for open surgical procedures. 21 adult patients with established tibial non-union were recruited. The average age of fracture non-union was 12 months (range 6–36). Infected cases, deformed non-unions and gap non-unions were excluded. Eleven were hypertrophic and ten atrophic type of non-union.

Under local anaesthesia, bone marrow was aspirated from the iliac crests using a 16 G sternal puncture needle. 3–5ml marrow was aspirated and injected immediately into and about the non-union site. Subsequent aspirations were performed 1 cm posterior to the previous site until a maximum of 15 ml marrow was injected. Patients were immobilised in a plaster cast. Radiographs were repeated at 6 weeks interval. A second injection was repeated at 6 weeks if there was no evidence of callus formation.

The procedure was considered a failure, if there was no union at six weeks following the third injection. Bone marrow could not be aspirated in one patient. 19 patients were followed up clinically and radiologically until there was definite bone union or failure.

Bone union was achieved in 15 patients out of 20 (75%), with an average time to union following the first injection 14 weeks (range 6–22 ). Two of the patients needed only one injection, nine needed two injections, and four patients needed three injections to unite. 4 patients (20%) showed no evidence of union.

There were no complications at the donor or recipient site.

We conclude that percutanous bone marrow grafting is a safe, simple, and reliable method of treating tibial non-union with minimal deformity.