Bone transport over an intramedullary nail for reconstruction of long bone defects in tibia

Ring Fixator Bone Transport Is Associated With Fewer Unplanned Major Reoperations Than Masquelet in the Treatment of Segmental Bone Defects of the Tibia

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether bone transport or Masquelet results in higher rates of major unplanned reoperations for the treatment of segmental tibial bone defects ≥4 cm in length.

METHODS

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA

Adult patients with segmental tibial defects (OTA/AO 41, 42, 43) ≥4 cm who underwent surgical treatment with ring fixator bone transport or Masquelet between 2011 and 2022 with a minimum 1-year follow-up were included.

OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS

The primary outcome was a major unplanned reoperation after corticotomy (bone transport) or autografting (Masquelet), including below knee amputation, surgical debridement for deep infection, or surgical intervention for nonunion. Ring fixator bone transport and Masquelet were compared using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for defect size as a potential confounder.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients treated with bone transport [mean age 40 years (18-66), 100% men] and 22 patients treated with Masquelet [mean age 42 years (22-71), 91% men] were included. Defect etiology was identified as acute traumatic in 25 patients (54%) and postinfectious in 21 patients (46%) ( P = 0.23). The median defect size was 7.2 cm (interquartile range 6.1-10.1) for transport and 5.8 cm for Masquelet (interquartile range 4.7-8.0) ( P = 0.08). Bone transport was associated with an 85% reduction in the odds of a major unplanned reoperation compared to treatment with the Masquelet technique (odds ratio, 0.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.58; P = 0.01). Bone transport patients underwent a mean of 0.38 major unplanned reoperations compared to 0.91 in the Masquelet group. Reoperation for deep infection occurred significantly less in the bone transport group (21%) compared to the Masquelet group (46%) (odds ratio, 0.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.76; P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Bone transport was associated with a reduction in major reoperations compared to Masquelet for segmental tibial bone defects. This finding may have been driven by fewer surgeries for infection in the bone transport group.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Effective Compression and a Minimally Invasive Rail Plate to Optimize Bone Transport in Distraction Osteogenesis: New Concepts

Background

Bone transport in distraction osteogenesis is an effective, well-known procedure. However, bone compression is an aspect of this technique for which there is no objective information. The lack of direct bone compression measurements may result in a lack of uniformity in the bone transport process, which can result in its ineffective application and may be contributing to its underutilization. This study describes the results of applying objectively measured compressions to achieve a distraction regeneration zone and docking site consolidation during bone transport in distraction osteogenesis.

Methods

This prospective study describes the results of a single cohort of 32 patients who underwent distraction osteogenesis with bone transport utilizing a combination of a minimally invasive rail plate and monolateral external fixation. The patients were categorized into 2 groups: (1) those with hypertrophic, atrophic, or infectious pseudarthrosis-nonunion (the pseudarthrosis-nonunion group), and (2) those with bone loss due to trauma or osteomyelitis (the bone loss group). The initial bone compression was measured during the latency phase, and the final compression was measured during the distraction phase. The healing index, external fixation index, healing time, consolidation time, and docking time were calculated for each patient. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons between and within groups.

Results

In this study, 28 (88%) of the patients were male. The mean patient age was 44.93 ± 16.21 years. The median values were 3.2 Nm for the initial compression and 3.4 Nm for the final compression, with no significant difference between or within groups of patients. The osseous results were excellent in 29 patients (91%), and the functional results were good or excellent in 31 patients (97%).

Conclusions

This study is the first to objectively measure compression in the bone transport process. Our findings showed that all patients who had an initial compression of ≥3.2 Nm achieved 100% consolidation of the distraction regeneration zone, and those who had a final compression of ≥2.9 Nm achieved complete docking site consolidation without complications. These 2 values thus represent effective compression and highlight the role of bone compression in bone transport.

Level of Evidence

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Case report: Plate-assisted bone transport with uniplanar external fixator in large bone defects of the humerus

INTRODUCTION

We present a case series of two patients who underwent plate-assisted bone transport (PABT) with a uniplanar external fixator for the treatment of large bone defects of the humerus. The efficacy and outcomes were evaluated.

CASE PRESENTATION

A retrospective review of patients treated with PABT for humeral defects over a 2-year period was performed. Proper gap healing occurred within 3 months, and a long course of physiotherapy was involved in obtaining satisfactory outcomes.

DISCUSSION

Our results demonstrate that PABT might be a potentially effective alternative for large humeral defects, allowing controlled bone lengthening and healing without disrupting vascularity and providing stability for early motion.

CONCLUSION

PABT appears to be a viable option for the management of large humeral defects with good functional outcomes and a manageable complication profile.

Augmentation with a non-vascularized autologous fibular graft for the management of Cierny-Mader type IV chronic femoral osteomyelitis: a salvage procedure

PURPOSE

The study aimed to evaluate preliminary clinical and radiographic results of patients with Cierny-Mader type IV chronic femoral osteomyelitis and augmented with a non-vascularized fibular autograft as a salvage procedure because of the poorly regenerated new bone after bone transport over an intramedullary nail (BTON).

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with CM type IV chronic femoral bone infection and treated with BTON procedure between 2003 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Seven patients were included in the study whose distraction gap was poorly regenerated and then augmented with a non-vascularized fibular autograft. A three-stage treatment was administered. First, the infection was eradicated. Second, BTON was performed. Third, the poorly regenerated distraction gap was augmented with a fibular autograft before removing the external fixator (EF). Clinical and radiological results were evaluated based on the criteria described by Paley-Maar and Li classification.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 52 years. The mean treatment time was 24.8 months, with a mean femoral lengthening of 12.6 cm. The mean EF and bone healing indexes were 0.57 months/cm and 0.8 months/cm, respectively. The mean length of the fibular graft was 13 cm. The bone healing of new bones was achieved in all patients with good quality after grafting. Functional scores were excellent in four patients. No patients experienced any sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-vascularized fibular autograft augmentation may be an effective salvage procedure for poorly regenerated new bone after BTON to manage chronic femoral bone infection.

Bone Marrow Stem Cells with Tissue-Engineered Scaffolds for Large Bone Segmental Defects: A Systematic Review

Critical-sized bone defects (CSBDs) represent a significant clinical challenge, stimulating researchers to seek new methods for successful bone reconstruction. The aim of this systematic review is to assess whether bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) combined with tissue-engineered scaffolds have demonstrated improved bone regeneration in the treatment of CSBD in large preclinical animal models. A search of electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) focused on in vivo large animal studies identified 10 articles according to the following inclusion criteria: (1) in vivo large animal models with segmental bone defects; (2) treatment with tissue-engineered scaffolds combined with BMSCs; (3) the presence of a control group; and (4) a minimum of a histological analysis outcome. Animal research: reporting of in Vivo Experiments guidelines were used for quality assessment, and Systematic Review Center for Laboratory animal Experimentation's risk of bias tool was used to define internal validity. The results demonstrated that tissue-engineered scaffolds, either from autografts or allografts, when combined with BMSCs provide improved bone mineralization and bone formation, including a critical role in the remodeling phase of bone healing. BMSC-seeded scaffolds showed improved biomechanical properties and microarchitecture properties of the regenerated bone when compared with untreated and scaffold-alone groups. This review highlights the efficacy of tissue engineering strategies for the repair of extensive bone defects in preclinical large-animal models. In particular, the use of mesenchymal stem cells, combined with bioscaffolds, seems to be a successful method in comparison to cell-free scaffolds.

Current Management of Diaphyseal Long Bone Defects-A Multidisciplinary and International Perspective

The treatment of defects of the long bones remains one of the biggest challenges in trauma and orthopedic surgery. The treatment path is usually very wearing for the patient, the patient's environment and the treating physician. The clinical or regional circumstances, the defect etiology and the patient´s condition and mental status define the treatment path chosen by the treating surgeon. Depending on the patient´s demands, the bony reconstruction has to be taken into consideration at a defect size of 2-3 cm, especially in the lower limbs. Below this defect size, acute shortening or bone grafting is usually preferred. A thorough assessment of the patient´s condition including comorbidities in a multidisciplinary manner and her or his personal demands must be taken into consideration. Several techniques are available to restore continuity of the long bone. In general, these techniques can be divided into repair techniques and reconstructive techniques. The aim of the repair techniques is anatomical restoration of the bone with differentiation of the cortex and marrow. Currently, classic, hybrid or all-internal distraction devices are technical options. However, they are all based on distraction osteogenesis. Reconstructive techniques restore long-bone continuity by replacing the defect zone with autologous bone, e.g., with a vascularized bone graft or with the technique described by Masquelet. Allografts for defect reconstruction in long bones might also be described as possible options. Due to limited access to allografts in many countries and the authors' opinion that allografts result in poorer outcomes, this review focuses on autologous techniques and gives an internationally aligned overview of the current concepts in repair or reconstruction techniques of segmental long-bone defects.

Shortening/re-lengthening and nailing versus bone transport for the treatment of segmental femoral bone defects

Segmental femoral bone defects are a severe challenge for orthopedic trauma surgeons. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of the shortening/re-lengthening and nailing (SRN) technique with the traditional bone transport (BT) technique in treating patients with such defects. A retrospective study was conducted involving 46 patients with segmental femoral bone defects, with 21 cases treated using the SRN technique (SRN group) and 25 cases managed with the traditional BT technique (BT group). The mean length of the bone defect was 5.8 ± 1.1 cm in the SRN group and 6.1 ± 1.6 cm in the BT group. Various parameters including time in frame, external fixation index, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) scores, bone healing scores, limb function scores, and complications were recorded. The mean time in frame for the SRN group was 3.7 ± 1.4 months, significantly shorter than the 9.4 ± 3.7 months observed in the BT group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the mean external fixation index for the SRN group was 0.62 ± 0.12 months/cm, significantly lower than the 1.50 ± 0.19 months/cm observed in the BT group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in bone healing scores between the SRN and BT groups (p = 0.237). The SAS scores and incidence of complications were significantly lower in the SRN group compared to the BT group (p < 0.05). Overall, the SRN technique demonstrated superior clinical efficacy compared to the traditional BT technique for the management of segmental femoral bone defects, with shorter time in frame, lower external fixation index, and reduced complications. Therefore, the SRN technique may be considered an optimal choice for treating patients with such conditions.

An osteoinductive and biodegradable intramedullary implant accelerates bone healing and mitigates complications of bone transport in male rats

Bone transport is a surgery-driven procedure for the treatment of large bone defects. However, challenging complications include prolonged consolidation, docking site nonunion and pin tract infection. Here, we develop an osteoinductive and biodegradable intramedullary implant by a hybrid tissue engineering construct technique to enable sustained delivery of bone morphogenetic protein-2 as an adjunctive therapy. In a male rat bone transport model, the eluting bone morphogenetic protein-2 from the implants accelerates bone formation and remodeling, leading to early bony fusion as shown by imaging, mechanical testing, histological analysis, and microarray assays. Moreover, no pin tract infection but tight osseointegration are observed. In contrast, conventional treatments show higher proportion of docking site nonunion and pin tract infection. The findings of this study demonstrate that the novel intramedullary implant holds great promise for advancing bone transport techniques by promoting bone regeneration and reducing complications in the treatment of bone defects.

A modified hybrid transport technique combined with a retrograde tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis nail for the management of distal tibial periarticular osteomyelitis and associated defects

BACKGROUND

This paper aimed to propose a modified technique of bone transport. An annular frame combined with a retrograde tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis nail was used in this novel technique for treating large distal tibial periarticular osteomyelitis and associated defects.

METHODS

Our team conducted a retrospective research. Forty-three patients with large distal tibial periarticular bone loss were involved in this study. Sixteen patients were treated using the modified hybrid transport technique (MHT group) while 27 were subjected to traditional bone transport (BT group). The mean bone loss was 7.8 ± 2.4 cm in the MHT group and 7.6 ± 2.6 cm in the BT group. The external fixation index, time in transport frame, self-rating anxiety scale, bone healing results and postoperative complications were recorded.

RESULTS

The mean time in frame for the MHT group was 3.6 ± 1.5 months, while that of the BT group was 10.3 ± 2.7 months (p < 0.05). The mean external fixation index of MHT group was 0.46 ± 0.08 months/cm versus 1.38 ± 0.24 months/cm of the BT group (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference for the bone healing results between the MHT and BT groups (p = 0.856). The self-rating anxiety scale and total complication incidence of the MHT group were significantly lower than that of BT patients (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared to the traditional BT technique, our modified hybrid transport technique showed better clinical outcomes for treating large distal tibial periarticular bone loss, including less time in transport frame, lower external fixation index and complication incidence. Therefore, this modified technique should be further promoted and developed.

Treatment of tibial large bone defects: A comparative study of bone transport over an intramedullary nail in combination with antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulphate versus bone transport alone with antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulphate

PURPOSE

To compare the bone transport over an intramedullary nail in combination with antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulphate versus bone transport alone with antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulphate for the treatment of tibial large bone defects.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted by enroling 33 surgically treated patients with tibial large bone defects after the debridement for tibial infection or osteomyelitis who were admitted in Lower Limb Surgery Ward of Traumatic orthopaedic Department, Xi'an Honghui Hospital from January 2018 to January 2021. All the patients were categorized in Group A (transport over intramedullary nail, 12 cases) and Group B (transport alone, 21 cases) based on the surgery strategy. The collected clinical materials and data included gender, age, injury mechanism, smoking habits, comorbidity diseases, initial fracture type (open or close), bone defect size, surgical duration, intraoperative bleeding loss, resorption time of calcium sulphate, bone transport time, external fixation time, external fixation index, weight bearing time, complications and Paley bone and functional criteria.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients were enroled and successfully followed up with an average time of 15.25±4.31 months ranged from 8 to 21 months in Group A and an average time of 17.09±5.64 months ranged from 9 to 31 months in Group B. No significantly statistical differences of the demographic data were discovered between the two groups. There were no significantly statistical differences of the average bone defect size, intraoperative bleeding loss, resorption time of calcium sulphate and bone transport time between the two groups. However, the average surgical duration (P = 0.002) was significantly longer in Group A than Group B and the average external fixation time (P<0.001), external fixation index(P = 0.002) and weight bearing time (P = 0.030) were significantly shorter in Group A than Group B. No significantly statistical difference of excellent and good rate of bone outcomes and complication rate was observed, however, the excellent and good rate of functional outcomes (P = 0.041) was significantly higher in Group A than Group B.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the conventional Ilizarov technique combining with antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulphate for large tibial bone defects, bone transport over an intramedullary nail in combination with antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulphate had favourable external fixation time, external fixation index, weight bearing time and clinical functional outcomes which effectively suppressed the infection and allowed patients earlier removal of the external fixator and weight bearing for rehabilitation.

Union, complication, reintervention and failure rates of surgical techniques for large diaphyseal defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To understand the potential and limitations of the different available surgical techniques used to treat large, long-bone diaphyseal defects by focusing on union, complication, re-intervention, and failure rates, summarizing the pros and cons of each technique. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to March 16th, 2022; Inclusion criteria were clinical studies written in English, of any level of evidence, with more than five patients, describing the treatment of diaphyseal bone defects. The primary outcome was the analysis of results in terms of primary union, complication, reintervention, and failure rate of the four major groups of techniques: bone allograft and autograft, bone transport, vascularized and non-vascularized fibular graft, and endoprosthesis. The statistical analysis was carried out according to Neyeloff et al., and the Mantel–Haenszel method was used to provide pooled rates across the studies. The influence of the various techniques on union rates, complication rates, and reintervention rates was assessed by a z test on the pooled rates with their corresponding 95% CIs. Assessment of risk of bias and quality of evidence was based on Downs and Black’s “Checklist for Measuring Quality” and Rob 2.0 tool. Certainty of yielded evidence was evaluated with the GRADE system. Seventy-four articles were included on 1781 patients treated for the reconstruction of diaphyseal bone defects, 1496 cases in the inferior limb, and 285 in the upper limb, with trauma being the main cause of bone defect. The meta-analysis identified different outcomes in terms of results and risks. Primary union, complications, and reinterventions were 75%, 26% and 23% for bone allografts and autografts, 91%, 62% and 19% for the bone transport group, and 78%, 38% and 23% for fibular grafts; mean time to union was between 7.8 and 8.9 months in all these groups. Results varied according to the different aetiologies, endoprosthesis was the best solution for tumour, although with a 22% failure rate, while trauma presented a more composite outcome, with fibular grafts providing a faster time to union (6.9 months), while cancellous and cortical-cancellous grafts caused less complications, reinterventions, and failures. The literature about this topic has overall limited quality. However, important conclusions can be made: Many options are available to treat critical-size defects of the diaphysis, but no one appears to be an optimal solution in terms of a safe, satisfactory, and long-lasting outcome. Regardless of the bone defect cause, bone transport techniques showed a better primary union rate, but bone allograft and autograft had fewer complication, reintervention, and failure rates than the other techniques. The specific lesion aetiology represents a critical aspect influencing potential and limitations and therefore the choice of the most suitable technique to address the challenging large diaphyseal defects.

Treatment of Posttraumatic Tibial Diaphyseal Bone Defects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To describe evidenced-based treatment options for patients who sustained trauma and/or posttraumatic osteomyelitis of the tibia resulting in diaphyseal bone defects and to compare outcomes between patients treated with nonvascularized bone grafts (NBGs), bone transport (BT), or vascularized bone grafts (VBGs).

DATA SOURCE

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of individual participant data and Cochrane guidelines were followed. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched from inception to June 2020.

STUDY SELECTION

Patients who were ≥18 years, had sustained trauma to the tibia resulting in fracture and/or osteomyelitis with measurable diaphyseal bone defects, and were treated by interventions such as NBGs, BT, or VBGs were eligible. Excluded studies were non-English, reviews, nonreviewed literature, cadavers, animals, unavailable full texts, nondiaphyseal defects, atrophic nonunions, malignancy, and replantations.

DATA EXTRACTION

A total of 108 studies were included with 826 patients. Two reviewers systematically/independently screened titles/abstracts, followed by full texts to ensure quality, accuracy, and consensus among authors for inclusion/exclusion of studies. A third reviewer addressed disagreements if investigators were unable to reach a consensus. Studies were quality assessed using "Methodological Quality and Synthesis of Case Series and Case Reports".

DATA SYNTHESIS

Analyses were performed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY) and G*Power3.1.9.2.

CONCLUSIONS

NBGs may be considered first line for trauma defect sizes ≤ 10 cm or posttraumatic osteomyelitis defect sizes <5 cm. BT may be considered first line for posttraumatic osteomyelitis defect sizes <5 cm. VBGs may be considered first line for trauma and posttraumatic osteomyelitis defect sizes ≥5 cm.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Salvage of Bone Transport with the Induced Membrane Technique in an Open Tibia Fracture with a Segmental Defect: A Case Report

CASE

A 29-year-old man with an open tibia fracture and a 15-cm bone defect was treated with irrigation, debridement, intramedullary nailing, soft-tissue flap, and bone transport with a frame over the nail. He developed osteomyelitis of his bone transport segment close to docking, which required bone resection and an induced membrane technique to salvage his transport segment and achieve union.

CONCLUSIONS

This report illustrates the combined use of bone transport and induced membrane technique to achieve union in a 15-cm tibial defect. It demonstrates the use of the Masquelet technique to salvage an infected bone transport segment.

Skeletal regeneration for segmental bone loss: Vascularised grafts, analogues and surrogates

Massive segmental bone defects (SBD) are mostly treated by removing the fibula and transplanting it complete with blood supply. While revolutionary 50 years ago, this remains the standard treatment. This review considers different strategies to repair SBD and emerging potential replacements for this highly invasive procedure. Prior to the technical breakthrough of microsurgery, researchers in the 1960s and 1970s had begun to make considerable progress in developing non autologous routes to repairing SBD. While the breaktthrough of vascularised bone transplantation solved the immediate problem of a lack of reliable repair strategies, much of their prior work is still relevant today. We challenge the assumption that mimicry is necessary or likely to be successful and instead point to the utility of quite crude (from a materials technology perspective), approaches. Together there are quite compelling indications that the body can regenerate entire bone segments with few or no exogenous factors. This is important, as there is a limit to how expensive a bone repair can be and still be widely available to all patients since cost restraints within healthcare systems are not likely to diminish in the near future. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This review is significant because it is a multidisciplinary view of several surgeons and scientists as to what is driving improvement in segmental bone defect repair, why many approaches to date have not succeeded and why some quite basic approaches can be as effective as they are. While there are many reviews of the literature of grafting and bone repair the relative lack of substantial improvement and slow rate of progress in clinical translation is often overlooked and we seek to challenge the reader to consider the issue more broadly.

Matched Comparison of Bone Transport Using External Fixator Over a Nail Versus External Fixator Over a Plate for Segmental Tibial Bone Defects

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcomes and complications of bone transport over a nail (BTON) with those of bone transport over a plate (BTOP) for segmental tibial bone defects.

DESIGN

Retrospective matched study design.

SETTING

A major metropolitan tertiary referral trauma center.

PATIENTS

Thirty-six patients with segmental tibial bone defects of >4 cm were included in this study.

INTERVENTION

Either BTON or BTOP was performed on 18 patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

We compared the healing of the distraction process and of the docking site between the techniques. Distraction parameters including external fixator (EF) time, external fixation index, and healing index were compared. Bone and functional results were compared according to the Paley-Maar classification. Complications associated with each procedure were compared.

RESULTS

Both BTON and BTOP achieved similar rates of primary union (83% vs. 89%) at the distraction or docking site. Significantly less time wearing an EF was needed for BTOP than for BTON (2.8 vs. 5.4 months; P < 0.01). The external fixation index was significantly lower for BTOP than for BTON (0.45 vs. 0.94 mo/cm; P < 0.01), whereas the healing indexes were similar. The final outcomes and complication incidences were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

The EF time was significantly shorter for BTOP than for BTON; however, the final outcomes were similar. Therefore, BTOP could be considered an attractive option for bone transport in patients with segmental tibial defects.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Managing Bone Defects in the Femur With a Motorized Intramedullary Bone Transport Nail: Case Review With Follow-Up

SUMMARY

Bone transport is an effective treatment for segmental bone defects. Until now, the need for external fixation, at least during the transport phase, has been a major disadvantage. New developments such as the bone transport nail allow an all-internal bone transport. A segment transport nail and the therapy regimen are described, and first cases are presented.

Knee Joint Bone Defects: Reconstruction With Bone Transport and Arthrodesis

BACKGROUND

The increasing in primary total knee arthroplasty has led to an increase in infectious complications, revision surgery, and bone loss. Knee joint bone defects (KJBD) may be managed using bone transport and arthrodesis with Ilizarov or bone transport over nail (BTON) techniques. The aim of this study is to compare both techniques in the reconstruction of KJBDs.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of 29 patients with extensive KJBD. All patients underwent reconstruction of the KJBD using bone transport (either Ilizarov or BTON techniques). The primary outcome variables for comparison between the two groups included time in frame (days), external fixation index (EFI, days/cm), residual limb length discrepancy (cm), and complications (Caton classification).

RESULTS

Gender and age profiles were comparable. Mean time spent in frame for bone transport was 566 days (σ = 236, 95% CI 429-702) for the Ilizarov cohort and 191 days (σ = 162, 95% CI 101-280) for BTON (P < .0001). EFI for the period of bone transport was 75.1 d/cm (σ = 41.5, 95% CI 51.1- 99.1) for the Ilizarov cohort and 24.7 d/cm (σ = 24.0, 95% CI 11.4-38) for BTON (P = .0004). Union, limb length discrepancy and complication rates were comparable between both groups.

CONCLUSION

For the management of KJBD after failed total knee arthroplasty, BTON is preferred due to significantly less time spent in frame, lower EFI, and higher rates of normal mechanical alignment. The Ilizarov method may be useful when there is a contraindication to BTON.

A Composite Lactide-Mineral 3D-Printed Scaffold for Bone Repair and Regeneration

Orthopedic tumor resection, trauma, or degenerative disease surgeries can result in large bone defects and often require bone grafting. However, standard autologous bone grafting has been associated with donor site morbidity and/or limited quantity. As an alternate, allografts with or without metallic or polyether-etherketone have been used as grafting substitutes. However, these may have drawbacks as well, including stress shielding, pseudarthrosis, disease-transmission, and infection. There is therefore a need for alternative bone substitutes, such as the use of mechanically compliant three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds. Several off-the-shelf materials are available for low-cost fused deposition 3D printing such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL). We have previously described the feasibility of 3D-printed PLA scaffolds to support cell activity and extracellular matrix deposition. In this study, we investigate two medical-grade filaments consistent with specifications found in American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard for semi-crystalline polylactide polymers for surgical implants, a pure polymer (100M) and a copolymeric material (7415) for their cytocompatibility and suitability in bone tissue engineering. Moreover, we assessed the impact on osteo-inductive properties with the addition of beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) minerals and assessed their mechanical properties. 100M and 7415 scaffolds with the additive β-TCP demonstrated superior mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation detected via increased alkaline phosphatase activity (6-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively) and mineralized matrix deposition (14-fold and 5-fold, respectively) in vitro. Furthermore, we evaluated in vivo compatibility, biosafety and bone repair potential in a rat femur window defect model. 100M+β -TCP implants displayed a positive biosafety profile and showed significantly enhanced new bone formation compared to 100M implants evidenced by μCT (39 versus 25% bone volume/tissue volume ratio) and histological analysis 6 weeks post-implantation. These scaffolds are encouraging composite biomaterials for repairing bone applications with a great potential for clinical translation. Further analyses are required with appropriate evaluation in a larger critical-sized defect animal model with long-term follow-up.

Fibula-Assisted Segment Transport (FAST) for Defect Reconstruction after Resection of Tibial Adamantinoma: Report of Two Treatments

Intramedullary limb lengthening via lengthening nails has been performed for more than three decades to overcome leg length inequalities. Plate-assisted bone segment transport (PABST) has recently been described for the reconstruction of segmental bone defects. We modified this procedure by using the ipsilateral fibula as a “biological plate” and report on its technical particularities and application in the reconstructive treatment of adamantinomas of the tibia in two patients. Both patients were successfully treated by wide resection and reconstruction of the tibial bone via bone segment transport through an expandable intramedullary nail using the remaining ipsilateral fibula to provide stabilization and guidance. This procedure was titled “fibula-assisted segment transport” (FAST). This is a new and promising technique that allows an entirely biological reconstruction of large bone defects of the tibia.

Reconstruction of massive tibial bone and soft tissue defects by trifocal bone transport combined with soft tissue distraction: experience from 31 cases

BACKGROUND

Large post-traumatic tibial bone defects combined with soft tissue defects are a common orthopedic clinical problem associated with poor outcomes when treated using traditional surgical methods. The study was designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of trifocal bone transport (TFT) and soft-tissue transport with the Ilizarov technique for large posttraumatic tibial bone and soft tissue defects.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 31 patients with massive posttraumatic tibial bone and soft tissue defects from May 2009 to May 2016. All of the eligible patients were managed by TFT and soft-tissue transport. The median age was 33.4 years (range, 2-58 years). The mean defect of bone was 11.87 cm ± 2.78 cm (range, 8.2-18.2 cm) after radical resection performed by TFT. The soft tissue defects ranged from 7 cm × 8 cm to 24 cm × 12 cm. The observed results included bone union time, wound close time and true complications. The Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) scoring system was used to assess bone and functional results and postoperative complications were evaluated by Paley classification.

RESULTS

The mean duration of follow-up after frame removal was 32 months (range, 12-96 months). All cases achieved complete union in both the elongation sites and the docking sites, and eradication of infection. The mean bone transport time was 94.04 ± 23.33 days (range, 63.7-147 days). The mean external fixation time was 22.74 ± 6.82 months (range, 14-37 months), and the mean external fixation index (EFI) was 1.91 ± 0.3 months/cm (range, 1.2-2.5 months/cm). The bone results were excellent in 6 patients, good in 14 patients, fair in 8 patients and poor in 3 patients. The functional results were excellent in 8 patients, good in 15 patients, fair in 5 patients and poor in 3 patients.

CONCLUSION

TFT, in conjunction with soft tissue transport technique, can give good results in most patients (in this article, good and excellent results were observed in 64% of patients). Soft tissue transport is a feasible method in providing good soft tissue coverage on the bone ends. Although it has no advantages over microvascular techniques, it might be an good alternative in the absence of an experienced flap surgeon. Nonetheless, high-quality controlled studies are needed to assess its long-term safety and efficacy.

Two-stage treatment with sliding fibular flap technique for chronic infected nonunion of the tibia

PURPOSE

To assess the effectiveness of two-stage treatment with the fibular sliding technique in chronic infected nonunion of the tibia.

METHODS

The study included patients who were diagnosed with long-term chronic infected tibial nonunion following trauma and treated with the two-stage technique between January 2010 and November 2017. Patients with (1) intra-articular fractures of the distal third of the tibia and fibula, (2) pathological fracture resulting in bone loss or (3) neurological and vascular pathologies of the limbs were excluded. The operation consisted of two stages and the main goal in the first stage was to control the infection and in the second stage to control the healing of the bone. Functional & radiographic results and complications were evaluated according to Paley's criteria.

RESULTS

The patients comprised 14 males and 5 females with a mean age of 37.4 years (range, 21-52 years). Patients were followed up for an average of 27 months (range, 15-38 months). The microorganisms produced from these patients were Staphylococcus aureus in 13 patients, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 4 patients and no bacteria in 2 patients. After the first stage operation, superficial skin necrosis developed in 1 patient. In another patient, there was a persistent infection, although union was achieved. For the entire patient group, union was observed at the end of 7.44 months (range, 7-11 months). Based on Paley's criteria, there were 16 (84.2%) patients with excellent scores, 2 (10.5%) good scores and 1 (5.3%) fair scores radiologically; while regarding the tibial function, 15 (78.9%) patients had excellent scores, 3 (15.8%) good scores, and 1 (5.3%) fair scores. No patients had poor radiological or functional score.

CONCLUSION

Two-stage treatment can be considered as an alternative for fractures in regions that are susceptible to many and persistent complications, such as the tibia. This technique has the advantages of short operation time, minimal blood loss, no excessive tissue damage and not very technique-demanding (a short learning curve with no requirement for an experienced team).

Treatment of Tibial and Femoral Bone Defects With Bone Transport Over an Intramedullary Nail

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the results of the bone transport over an intramedullary nail (BTON) technique for the treatment of segmental bone defects.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of case series.

SETTING

Level 1 trauma center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

We included 40 patients who underwent reconstruction of the lower limb with BTON technique between 2000 and 2018. The technique was performed in the tibial segments in 21 patients and in the femoral segments in 19 patients.

INTERVENTION

The surgical technique was performed in 2 stages for patients with infected nonunion. Infection was eradicated in all patients at the first stage. For the BTON at the second stage, monolateral external fixators and circular external fixators were used for femoral and tibial defects, respectively. In cases of defects without any infection, debridement with a single-stage BTON was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Complications as well as radiological and clinical results were evaluated according to the criteria of Paley-Maar.

RESULTS

Minor complications occurred in 11 patients: pin site problems (9), cellulitis (1), and skin detachment due to Schanz screw (1). Major complications occurred in 8 patients: docking site nonunion (4), early consolidation and Schanz screw failure (1), knee flexion contracture (1), and ankle equinus contracture (2). Four patients had osteomyelitis as residual sequelae. Bone score was excellent in 27 patients. Excellent functional results were obtained in 31 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The BTON technique is associated with low cost because of the short treatment period, low complication risk, and rapid rehabilitation and is not limited by the amount of bone transport.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Bone-Graft Resorption Reduced by the Induced Membrane Technique and Factors Affecting Volumetric Changes: An Analysis of 120 Serial Computed Tomographic Scans in 40 Patients

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the volumetric changes of grafted bone over time when using the induced membrane technique. This study investigates the volumetric changes of bone graft using serial computed tomographic (CT) scans following the induced membrane technique.

METHODS

Patients with critical-sized bone defects had serial CT scans after undergoing bone-grafting using the induced membrane technique. CT scans to evaluate the volume of bone graft were obtained immediately postoperatively and at 6 and 12 months. The change in the volume of bone graft was determined at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Patient demographic characteristics, the location and composition of the bone graft, and the type of fixation construct were analyzed.

RESULTS

Forty patients met inclusion criteria. There were 27 tibiae and 13 femora with a mean size defect of 8.6 cm (range, 2.5 to 20.6 cm). Of these patients, 21 received autograft with cancellous bone graft and 19 received mixed autogenous bone with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) at a mean time of 17 weeks after the membrane formation. For the first 6 months, there was an overall osseous resorption of -9.9%. The overall graft volume from 6 to 12 months demonstrated an increase of osseous volume by +1.6%. For the entire 12-month period, there was a mean graft volume resorption of -8.3%. A correlation was found between the early volumetric changes of grafted bone and the percentage of DBM in the graft mixture. A correlation was also found between the late volumetric changes and the location of defect or the type of fixation.

CONCLUSIONS

At 1 year after use of the induced membrane technique for the treatment of a critical-sized bone defect, resorption of the grafted bone averaged -8.3%. The volumetric changes were influenced by the property of the grafted bone, the fixation construct, and the location of the defect.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Bone transport versus acute shortening for the management of infected tibial bone defects: a meta-analysis

Background

The treatment for infected tibial bone defects can be a great challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the safety and efficacy between bone transport (BT) and the acute shortening technique (AST) in the treatment of infected tibial bone defects.

Methods

A literature survey was conducted by searching the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases together with the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Wanfang database for articles published up to 9 August 2019. The modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) was adapted to evaluate the bias and risks in each eligible study. The data of the external fixation index (EFI), bone grafting, bone and functional results, complications, bone union time and characteristics of participants were extracted. RevMan v.5.3 was used to perform relevant statistical analyses. Standard mean difference (SMD) was used for continuous variables and relative risk (RR) for the binary variables. All of the variables included its 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Five studies, including a total of 199 patients, were included in the study. Statistical significance was observed in the EFI (SMD = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.25, 1.01, P = 0.001) and bone grafting (RR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.15, 0.46, P < 0.00001); however, no significance was observed in bone union time (SMD = − 0.02, 95% CI: − 0.39, 0.35, P = 0.92), bone results (RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.04, P = 0.41), functional results (RR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.86, 1.08, P = 0.50) and complications (RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.41, 1.39, P = 0.37).

Conclusions

AST is preferred from the aspect of minimising the treatment period, whereas BT is superior to AST for reducing bone grafting. Due to the limited number of trials, the meaning of this conclusion should be taken with caution for infected tibial bone defects.

Extreme bone lengthening by bone transport with a unifocal tibial corticotomy: a case report

Background

Bone transport is used for the treatment of extensive limb bone defects. The application of ring or unilateral external fixators combined with single or double corticotomy are well documented; however, there are few cases adopting a single corticotomy to repair bone defects > 24 cm.

Case presentation

The present case study describes an 18-year-old male, who was involved in a traffic accident and was diagnosed with open fracture of the right tibia. The patient received emergency surgery in a local hospital and was transferred to The Second People’s Hospital of Yunnan for further treatment 3 months later. The patient was diagnosed with fracture nonunion and infection following admission. Complete debridement was performed three times to control the infection. The infection was resolved after 26 days and the 24.5 cm massive tibia defect remained the biggest challenge. The bone transport technique involving a unilateral external fixator and single corticotomy was employed to treat the bone defect. Docking site union was achieved and bone consolidation was complete 40 months after corticotomy. The external fixator was subsequently removed. The bone healing index was 1.6 months/cm. The Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov criteria (ASAMI) revealed a good functional and bone repair result. Similarly, Knee Society Score (KSS) yielded good result and the The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) was 65. A total of 45 months after injury, the patient was able to walk painlessly without ambulatory assistive devices and resumed daily activities successfully. Eighteen months after the bone and soft tissue wound have healed, the SF-36 score was 86, and the LEFS was 70.

Conclusion

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present study described the longest bone defect repair performed using bone transport with single level corticotomy.

Relevant advances in bone lengthening research: a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most-cited articles published from 2001 to 2017

This study aimed to assess the scientific production of bone lengthening research by identifying the most-cited papers. All articles including the term 'bone lengthening' published between 2001 and 2017 were retrieved through the Web of Science database. The 100 most-cited articles on bone lengthening included a total of 4244 citations, with 414 (9.7%) citations in 2017. There was an average of 249.6 citations per year. The articles predominantly addressed biomechanics and bone formation (38). Different surgical techniques, including intramedullary nail (14), Ilizarov (nine), intramedullary skeletal kinetic distractor (ISKD) (six), Taylor spatial frame (6), the PRECICE device (three), and lengthening and submuscular locking plate (three), were the second most-studied topic. Most studies were therapeutic (58), whereas 30 studies were experimental investigations using animal models. Among the clinical studies, case series were predominant (level of evidence IV) (57). This study presents the first bibliometric analysis of the most relevant articles on bone lengthening. The list is relatively comprehensive in terms of identifying the top issues in this field. However, the most influential clinical studies have a poor level of evidence, although a slight tendency toward a better level of evidence has been observed in more recent years.

Infection-free rates and Sequelae predict factors in bone transportation for infected tibia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Tibia infected nonunion and chronic osteomyelitis are challenging clinical presentations. Bone transportation with external or hybrid fixators (combined external and internal fixators) is versatile to solve these problems. However, the infection-free rates of these fixator systems are unknown. Additionally, the prognosis factors for results of bone transportation are obscure. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to answer these questions.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA-IPD guidelines. Relevant publications from January 1995 to September 2018 were compiled from Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. The infection-free rates of external and hybrid fixators were achieved by synthesizing aggregate data and individual participant data (IPD). IPD was analyzed by two-stage method with logistical regression to identify prognosis factors of sequelae.

Results

Twenty-two studies with 518 patients were identified, including 11 studies with 167 patients’ IPD, and 11 studies with 351 patients’ aggregate data. The infection-free rate of hybrid fixator group was 86% (95%CI: 79–94%), lower than that of external fixator which was 97% (95%CI: 95–98%,). The number of previous surgeries was found predict factor of bone union sequelae (p = 0.04) and function sequelae(p < 0.01); The external fixation time was found predict factor of function sequelae (p = 0.015).

Conclusions

Hybrid fixators may be associated with a greater risk of infection-recurrence in the treatment of tibia infected nonunion and chronic osteomyelitis. The number of previous surgeries and external fixation time can be used as predictors of outcomes. Proper fixators and meticulously designed surgery are important to avoid unexpected operations and shorten external fixation time.

Regenerative medicine in lower limb reconstruction

Bone is a highly specialized connective tissue and has a rare quality as one of the few tissues that can repair without a scar to regain pre-injury structure and function. Despite the excellent healing capacity of bone, tumor, infection, trauma and surgery can lead to significant bone loss requiring skeletal augmentation. Bone loss in the lower limb poses a complex clinical problem, requiring reconstructive techniques to restore form and function. In the past, amputation may have been the only option; however, there is now an array of reconstructive possibilities and cellular therapies available to salvage a limb. In this review, we will evaluate current applications of bone tissue engineering techniques in limb reconstruction and identify potential strategies for future work.

Comparison of three different approaches for anterior knee pain after tibia intramedullary nailing

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare anterior knee pain and functional outcomes in patients who underwent intramedullary tibial nailing using transpatellar, medial parapatellar or suprapatellar nail entry methods.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent tibial fracture repair in our clinic between January 2010 and March 2017. After applying the exclusion criteria, 58 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the nailing approach: medial parapatellar, transpatellar or suprapatellar. Age, body mass index, follow-up duration, Kujala Score, Lysholm Knee Score, anterior knee pain, length of hospitalization and surgical duration were assessed.

RESULTS

Of the 58 patients studied, 21 underwent a transpatellar (TP) approach, 16 a medial parapatellar (MP) approach, and 21 a suprapatellar (SP) approach. The mean Kujala Score of patients who had the TP approach was 80 ± 7.15 (72-93) and the average Lysholm Knee Score was 80.23 ± 8.74 (70-95). There was no statistically significant difference between Kujala Scores (p = 0.38) or Lysholm Knee Scores (p 0.06) among the groups; similarly, no statistically significant difference was found among the three groups in terms of anterior knee pain, length of hospitalization or surgical duration (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The suprapatellar tibia nailing method is as safe and reliable as transpatellar and medial parapatellar methods in terms of effect on postoperative anterior knee pain and functional outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3 case-control study.

Reconstruction of large diaphyseal bone defect by simplified bone transport over nail technique: A 7-case series

Reconstruction of large diaphyseal bone defect is complex and the complications rate is high. This study aimed to assess a simplified technique of segmental bone transport by monorail external fixator over an intramedullary nail.A prospective study included 7 patients: 2 femoral and 5 tibial defects. Mean age was 31years (range: 16-61years). Mean follow-up was 62 months (range: 46-84months). Defects were post-traumatic, with a mean length of 7.2cm (range: 4 to 9.5cm). For 3 patients, reconstruction followed primary failure. In 4 cases, a covering flap was necessary. Transport used an external fixator guided by an intramedullary nail, at a rate of 1mm per day. One pin was implanted on either side of the distraction zone. The external fixator was removed 1 month after bone contact at the docking site. Mean bone transport time was 11 weeks (range: 7-15 weeks). Mean external fixation time was 5.1months (range: 3.5 to 8months). Full weight-bearing was allowed 5.7months (range: 3.5-13months) after initiation of transport. In one patient, a pin had to be repositioned. In 3 patients, the transported segment re-ascended after external fixatorablation, requiring repeat external fixation and resumption of transport. There was just 1 case of superficial pin infection. Reconstruction quality was considered "excellent" on the Paley-Marr criteria in 6 cases. The present technique provided excellent reconstruction quality in 6 of the 7 cases. External fixation time was shorter and resumption of weight-bearing earlier than with other reconstruction techniques, notably including bone autograft, vascularized bone graft or the induced membrane technique. Nailing facilitated control of limb axis and length. The complications rate was 50%, comparable to other techniques. This study raises the question of systematic internal fixation of the docking site, to avoid any mobilization of the transported segment. The bone quality, axial control and rapidity shown by the present technique make it well-adapted to reconstruction of diaphyseal bone defect.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Four-case series.

Segmental Bone Loss Reconstruction Using Ring Fixation

Ring fixation is a powerful tool in the treatment of bone defects. The ability to create high-quality, biologically normal new bone of even massive proportions using distraction osteogenesis is a major reason for its success. In addition, ring fixation provides the ability to limit the risk of deep infection, improves flexibility in limb length control and alignment, and increases soft tissue coverage options. The drawbacks of ring fixation include long frame times, pin problems, risk of joint contractures, and difficult usage in areas with a large soft tissue envelope such as the thigh. Significant advancements such as hydroxyapatite coated pins, internal cable transport, multifocal transport, and combined techniques with internal fixation have helped increase the effectiveness of ring fixator use by minimizing many of the drawbacks. At present, ring fixation provides the most effective means of treatment for large bone defects in many clinic situations.

[Tissue flap combined with sequential bone lengthening technique for repairing severe soft tissue and bone defects of lower extremity after burn injury]

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of tissue flap grafting and sequential bone lengthening for repairing severe soft tissue and bone defects of the lower extremity after burn injury.

Methods

Between January 2010 and December 2015, 11 cases of large segmental bone and soft tissue defects in the leg were treated. There were 10 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 28 years (range, 19-37 years). The causes included traffic accident in 8 cases, high voltage electric burn in 2 cases, CO poisoning burn in 1 case. The time from injury to admission was 3-14 days (mean, 6.5 days). The bone defect length was 8-18 cm (mean,14 cm); the skin soft tissue defect ranged from 13 cm × 8 cm to 25 cm × 19 cm. After complete removal of necrotic tissue and lesions of the femur or the tibia, the tissue flaps were used to repair soft tissue defect of the lower extremity in one-stage operation; bone defect was treated by Orthofix single side external fixation or Ilizarov ring external fixation in two-stage operation.

Results

Eleven flaps survived completely, primary healing of incision was obtained in the others except for 1 patient who had necrotic bone infection, which was cured after removing necrosed femoral bone and filling with antibiotic bone cement spacer. During bone lengthening, pin tract infection occurred in 1 patient, and infection was controlled after dressing change. Bone lengthening ranged from 8 to 18 cm, with an average of 14 cm. After prolonged extension, the external fixator was retained for 4-12 months (mean, 6.5 months). All bone defects were repaired with bone healing time of 12-22 months (mean, 17 months). All patients were followed up 8-24 months (mean, 15 months). No vascular and neurological complication occurred during operation; no osteomyelitis or re-fracture occurred after operation, and the recovery of the lower extremity function was good.

Conclusion

Tissue flap grafting combined with bone lengthening is an effective method to repair severe bone and soft tissue defects of lower extremity.

Treatment Options for Nonunion With Segmental Bone Defects: Systematic Review and Quantitative Evidence Synthesis

OBJECTIVES

To determine which reconstruction treatment of long bones nonunion with segmental bone defects (SBDs) is effective to restore bone length and union with good function.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed was used to identify published literature on treatment of SBD caused by fracture nonunion regardless of infection between January 1975 and December 2014.

STUDY SELECTION

We included retrospective cohort studies with a minimum sample size of 10 consecutive patients with minimum follow-up of 18 months and available data on radiographic and functional outcomes.

DATA EXTRACTION

Literature review revealed 24 publications with a sample size of 504 patients (395 males, 109 females). Data on bone union and functional outcome and complications were collected and analyzed based on validated classification systems.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Two outcome groups were categorized for bone union and functional outcome, success, and failure. We then performed heterogeneity test to examine the variability or differences in the methods used by these studies and based on that we determined whether the fixed effect or random effect method is appropriate in examining the summary or pool estimate. Pool estimate was examined for bone union and functional outcome in each surgical modality and in each anatomic location when data were available.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of SBD can be challenging. This quantitative evidence synthesis shows that bone union was achieved by different procedures with variable bone union and functional outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Limb reconstruction after traumatic bone loss

A variety of options exist to reconstruct limbs following traumatic bone loss. The management of these injuries is challenging and often requires prolonged and potentially painful treatment. The Ilizarov technique of bone transport using circular external fixators is widely used for limb reconstruction of large bone defects. Other techniques include vascularised fibular grafting, the use of induced pseudosynovial membranes combined with cancellous autologous bone grafts and the use of autologous, allogeneic or synthetic bone grafts on their own for smaller defects. Future directions include further research on bone tissue engineering using stem cell therapy and growth factors such as bone morphogenetic proteins. The purpose of this Continuing Medical Education article is to describe the key limb reconstructive techniques that may be employed to treat traumatic bone loss. In particular, this article is intended to serve as a revision tool for those preparing for postgraduate examinations.

Distraction osteogenesis using combined locking plate and Ilizarov fixator in the treatment of bone defect: A report of 2 cases

Distraction osteogenesis and bone transport has been used to reconstruct bone loss defect by allowing new bone to form in the gap. Plate-guided bone transport has been successfully described in literature to treat bone loss defect in the femur, tibia, and mandible. This study reports two cases of fracture of femur with segmental bone loss treated with locking plate fixation and bone transport with Ilizarov ring fixator. At the time of docking, when the transport segment is compressed with bone fragment, the bone fragment is fixed with additional locking or nonlocking screws through the plate. The bone defect size was 7 cm in case 1 and 8 cm in case 2 and the external fixation indexes were 12.7 days/cm and 14 days/cm. No shortening was present in either of our cases. The average radiographic consolidation index was 37 days/cm. Both cases achieved infection-free bone segment regeneration and satisfactorily functional outcome. This technique reduces the duration of external fixation during the consolidation phase, allows correction of length and alignment and provides earlier rehabilitation.

Plate augmentation and autologous bone grafting after intramedullary nailing for challenging femoral bone defects: a technical note

The treatment of a large segmental defect of over 6 cm in a long bone is a challenging procedure. Treatment options include cancellous bone graft (e.g., the Masquelet technique), vascularized fibular graft (VFG), and internal bone transport (IBT) with an external fixator. These methods may be performed with intramedullary (IM) nailing or plate fixation to enhance stability or to lessen the time of external fixation. Each method has its own advantages and limitations. This study aimed to describe the advantages of additional plate augmentation and autologous bone grafting after IM nail implantation. Three patients with large segmental femoral bone defects were treated with IM nail implantation; then, one- or two-stage autologous iliac bone grafting with additional plate augmentation was performed. All patients achieved bony union without metal failure. We describe a technique involving additional plate augmentation and autologous iliac bone grafting for treating large femoral defects after restoring the length of the femur using an IM nail implantation and an external fixator.

A novel intramedullary callus distraction system for the treatment of femoral bone defects

An intramedullary device has some advantages over external fixation in callus distraction for bone defect reconstruction. There are difficulties controlling motorized intramedullary devices and monitoring the distraction rate which may lead to poor results. The aim of this study was to design a fully implantable and non-motorized simple distraction nail for the treatment of bone defects. The fully implantable device comprises a tube-in-tube system and a wire pulling mechanism for callus distraction. For the treatment of femoral bone defects, a traction wire, attached to the device at one end, is fixed to the tibial tubercle at its other end. Flexion of the knee joint over a predetermined angle generates a traction force on the wire triggering bone segment transport. This callus distraction system was implanted into the femur of four human cadavers (total 8 femora), and bone segment transport was conducted over 60-mm defects with radiographic monitoring. All bone segments were transported reliably to the docking site. From these preliminary results, we conclude that this callus distraction system offers an alternative to the current intramedullary systems for the treatment of bone defects.

Management of traumatic bone loss in the lower extremity

Segmental bone loss represents a difficult clinical entity for the treating orthopedic surgeon. This article discusses the various treatment modalities available for limb reconstruction, with a focus on the indications, potential complications, and the outcomes of available treatment options.

Bilateral tibial lengthening over the nail: our experience of 143 cases

INTRODUCTION

Using lengthening over an intramedullary nail as a technique for cosmetic purposes improves the individuals' quality of life and provides more satisfactory results due to less external fixator period.

METHODS

This study reports a case series of 143 individuals who underwent bilateral tibial lengthening over an intramedullary nail for cosmetic purposes together with the review of parameters related to the surgery and complications. Level of satisfaction was measured with the standard visual analog scale at least 1 year after removal of external fixator.

RESULTS

In this study, mean (SD) age of patients was 26.6 (7.26) years. 85 (59.4%) participants were male and 58 (40.6%) were female. Mean end lengthening of all individuals was 6.65 cm. The mean external fixator period was 93.7 days. Complication rate was 0.74 per segment but it decreased to 0.45 when pin-tract infection was excluded. Complications were categorized based on Paley et al.'s classification as 129 problems, 85 obstacles and no sequelae. Interestingly, 44 (30.8%) individuals had no problem and obstacle.

CONCLUSIONS

Lengthening over an intramedullary nail provides bone formation in equal quality to that obtained by the conventional Ilizarov method, along with lower rate of complications. The large number of individuals involved in our study is a remarkable benefit which could be used as an appropriate sample to compare results for outcomes and complications.

Bone transport with an external fixator and a locking plate for segmental tibial defects

Although gradual bone transport may permit the restoration of large-diameter bones, complications are common owing to the long duration of external fixation. In order to reduce such complications, a new technique of bone transport involving the use of an external fixator and a locking plate was devised for segmental tibial bone defects. A total of ten patients (nine men, one woman) with a mean age at operation of 40.4 years (16 to 64) underwent distraction osteogenesis with a locking plate to treat previously infected post-traumatic segmental tibial defects. The locking plate was fixed percutaneously to bridge proximal and distal segments, and was followed by external fixation. After docking, percutaneous screws were fixed at the transported segment through plate holes. At the same time, bone grafting was performed at the docking site with the external fixator removed. The mean defect size was 5.9 cm (3.8 to 9.3) and mean external fixation index was 13.4 days/cm (11.8 to 19.5). In all cases, primary union of the docking site and distraction callus was achieved, with an excellent bony result. There was no recurrence of deep infection or osteomyelitis, and with the exception of one patient with a pre-existing peroneal nerve injury, all achieved an excellent or good functional result. With short external fixation times and low complication rates, bone transport with a locking plate could be recommended for patients with segmental tibial defects.

Bone transport combined with locking bridge plate fixation for the treatment of tibial segmental defects: a report of 2 cases

Segmental tibial bone loss, specifically in the setting of high-energy trauma, presents a challenging problem to the treating orthopaedic surgeon. These injuries are often complicated by tissue loss, poor wound healing, and infection. Many techniques of reconstruction have been advocated from bone grafting to bone transport. Transport can accomplished using Ilizarov frames, monolateral external fixators, and intramedullary devices. Although transport over an intramedullary device offers the advantage of rigidity and controlled alignment, many authors consider prolonged external fixation and history of pin tract infection to be contraindications to this technique. To our knowledge, bone segment transport used in combination with locking plate fixation has not been described for the treatment of tibial bone defects. We describe two cases of bone transport using a combination of locked plate fixation and a monolateral external fixation frame for large tibial bone defects. This technique allows for easy correction of length and alignment, stable fixation, facilitates quicker, and easier frame removal and also allows for compression of transported segment at the time of docking.

Elucidating multiscale periosteal mechanobiology: a key to unlocking the smart properties and regenerative capacity of the periosteum?

The periosteum, a thin, fibrous tissue layer covering most bones, resides in a dynamic, mechanically loaded environment. The periosteum also provides a niche for mesenchymal stem cells. The mechanics of periosteum vary greatly between species and anatomical locations, indicating the specialized role of periosteum as bone's bounding membrane. Furthermore, periosteum exhibits stress-state-dependent mechanical and material properties, hallmarks of a smart material. This review discusses what is known about the multiscale mechanical and material properties of the periosteum as well as their potential effect on the mechanosensitive progenitor cells within the tissue. Furthermore, this review addresses open questions and barriers to understanding periosteum's multiscale structure-function relationships. Knowledge of the smart material properties of the periosteum will maximize the translation of periosteum and substitute periosteum to regenerative medicine, facilitate the development of biomimetic tissue-engineered periosteum for use in instances where the native periosteum is lacking or damaged, and provide inspiration for a new class of smart, advanced materials.

Elucidating multiscale periosteal mechanobiology: a key to unlocking the smart properties and regenerative capacity of the periosteum?

The periosteum, a thin, fibrous tissue layer covering most bones, resides in a dynamic, mechanically loaded environment. The periosteum also provides a niche for mesenchymal stem cells. The mechanics of periosteum vary greatly between species and anatomical locations, indicating the specialized role of periosteum as bone's bounding membrane. Furthermore, periosteum exhibits stress-state-dependent mechanical and material properties, hallmarks of a smart material. This review discusses what is known about the multiscale mechanical and material properties of the periosteum as well as their potential effect on the mechanosensitive progenitor cells within the tissue. Furthermore, this review addresses open questions and barriers to understanding periosteum's multiscale structure-function relationships. Knowledge of the smart material properties of the periosteum will maximize the translation of periosteum and substitute periosteum to regenerative medicine, facilitate the development of biomimetic tissue-engineered periosteum for use in instances where the native periosteum is lacking or damaged, and provide inspiration for a new class of smart, advanced materials.

Femoral bone transport by a monolateral external fixator with or without the use of intramedullary nail: a single-department retrospective study

BACKGROUNDS

Treatment for bone defect remains a challenge for orthopedists. Bone transport gives an effective alternative, which can be performed with an external fixator alone or combined with an intramedullary nail. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. We present a retrospective study to find out the optimal choice by evaluating the outcomes of treatment for femoral bone defect with two methods.

METHODS

Two groups of patients, the monolateral external fixator alone (group A, n = 13) and the monolateral external fixator combined with intramedullary nail (group B, n = 15), were compared. Duration of the external fixator, external fixator index, radiographic consolidation index, complication, and total cost for treatment was also recorded. A modified classification of the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) was used to assess results in two groups of patients; another SF-36 health survey questionnaire was used to assess the life qualities patients of two groups.

RESULTS

Healing was achieved in 13/13 and 13/15 of the two groups, respectively. The rates of complications were significantly higher in the group A. Two patients performed amputations because of persistent deep infections in group B. Statistically significant difference was found when comparing ASAMI scores and categories of the SF-36 health survey.

CONCLUSIONS

Bone transport by monolateral external fixator with the use of intramedullary nail reduces the incidence of complication and the duration of external fixator time that give patients a better life quality in both physical and emotional. However, if chronic osteitis exists, bone transport should be treated with monolateral external fixator alone due to a lower rate of amputations.

Evolution of orthopaedic reconstructive care

The patterns and severity of injury sustained by service members have continuously evolved over the past 10 years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 2010 surge of combat troops into Afghanistan, combined with a transition to counterinsurgency tactics with an emphasis on dismounted operations, resulted in increased exposure of US service members to improvised explosive devices and a new pattern of injury termed dismounted complex blast injury. This constellation of injuries typically includes multiple extremity injuries, high bilateral transfemoral amputations, amputated or mangled upper extremities, open pelvis fractures, and injury to the perineal and/or genital regions. These polytraumatized patients frequently present with head, abdominal, and genitourinary injuries, as well. Traditional methods of reconstruction must be optimized because tissue availability may be limited.

Methods to shorten the duration of an external fixator in the management of tibial infections

Massive segmental bone loss due to chronic osteomyelitis represents a considerable challenge to orthopedic surgeons and is a limb threatening condition. The only option available in such a clinical situation is segment transport using the Ilizarov technique of distraction osteogenesis; yet the most common problem in cases of bone transport with the Ilizarov technique in massive bone loss, is the long duration of the fixator. In addition to autologous bone grafting, several mechanical, biologic, and external physical treatment modalities may be employed to promote bone formation and maturation during segment transport in osteomyelitis patients. Mechanical approaches include compressive loading of the distraction regenerate, increased frequency of small increments of distraction, and compression-distraction. Intramedullary nailing and hemicorticotomy can reduce the time in external fixation; however, these techniques are associated with technical difficulties and complications. Exogenous application of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound or pulsed electromagnetic fields may shorten the duration of external fixation. Other promising modalities include diphosphonates, physician-directed use (off-label use) of bone morphogenetic proteins, and local injection of bone marrow aspirate and platelet gel at the osteotomy site. Well-designed clinical studies are needed to establish safe and effective guidelines for various modalities to enhance new bone formation during distraction osteogenesis after segment transfer.

Enhancement of bone formation during distraction osteogenesis: pediatric applications

Delayed bone healing during distraction osteogenesis negatively affects clinical outcome. In addition to autologous bone grafting, several mechanical, chemical, biologic, and external treatment modalities may be employed to promote bone growth during distraction osteogenesis in the pediatric patient. Mechanical approaches include compressive loading of the distraction regenerate, increased frequency of small increments of distraction, and compression-distraction. Intramedullary nailing and submuscular plating can reduce the time in external fixation; however, these techniques are associated with technical difficulties and complications. Exogenous application of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound or pulsed electromagnetic fields may shorten the duration of external fixation. Other promising modalities include diphosphonates, physician-directed use (off-label use) of bone morphogenetic proteins, and local injection of bone marrow aspirate and platelet gel at the osteotomy site. Well-designed clinical studies are needed to establish safe and effective guidelines for various modalities to enhance new bone formation during distraction osteogenesis in children.

Segmental transports for posttraumatic lower extremity bone defects: are femoral bone transports safer than tibial?

BACKGROUND

The long-term outcomes following femoral and tibial segment transports are not well documented. Purpose of the study is to compare the complication rates and life quality scores of femoral and tibial transports in order to find what are the complication rates of femoral and tibial monorail bone transports and if they are different?

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 8 femoral and 14 tibial consecutive segment transports performed with the monorail technique between 2001 and 2008 in our institution. Mean follow-up was 5.1 ± 2.1 years with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Aetiology of the defects was posttraumatic in all cases. Four femoral (50%) and nine tibial (64%) fractures were open. The Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey was used to compare the life quality after femoral and tibial bone transports. The Mann-Whiney U test, Fisher exact test, and the Student's two tailed t-test were used for statistical analysis. P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

The tibial transport was associated with higher rates of severe complications and additional procedures (1.5 ± 0.9 vs. 3.4 ± 2.7, p = 0.048). Three patients of the tibial group were amputated because of recurrent infections and one developed a complete regenerate insufficiency that was treated with partial diaphyseal tibial replacement. Contrary to that none of patients of the femoral group developed a complete regenerate insufficiency or was amputated.

CONCLUSIONS

Tibial bone transports have a higher rate of complete and incomplete regenerate insufficiency and can more often end in an amputation. The authors suggest systematic weekly controls of the CRP value and of the callus formation in patients with posttraumatic tibia bone transports. Further comparative studies comparing the results of bone transports with and without intramedullary implants are necessary.