Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) with cancellous allograft to iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) in the treatment of long bone nonunions. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A single level I trauma center. PATIENTS: 26 patients with long bone diaphyseal or metaphyseal nonunions with defects >2 mm and treated with open repair and BMAC, compared to 25 patients with long bone diaphyseal or metaphyseal nonunions with defects >2 mm and treated with open repair and ICBG. INTERVENTION: Open repair of long bone nonunion using either autologous ICBG or BMAC with cancellous allograft. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Nonunion healing, radiographically measured by the modified Radiographic Union Score for Tibia (mRUST) score. Secondary outcomes included risk factors associated with failed repair. RESULTS: The union rates for the BMAC and ICBG cohorts were 75% and 78%, respectively (P = .8). Infection was the only risk factor of statistical significance for failure. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found no significant difference in union rate for long bone nonunions treated with ICBG or BMAC with allograft. BMAC and allograft led to 75% successful healing in this series. Given the heterogeneity of the control group and loss to follow-up, further prospective investigation should be conducted to more rigorously compare BMAC to ICBG for nonunion treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, retrospective cohort.