Plasty of shin bone defects with segmental loss using ring fixators of the wire-rod type

The problem of segmental bone loss of the tibia after fractures is an urgent and not completely resolved problem. The use of distraction osteogenesis by bone transport according to Ilizarov is the leading method of treatment. Improving this technology is a generally accepted way of improving treatment outcomes.To propose improvements in the technology of distraction osteosynthesis with the use of ring fixators, taking into account the problematic issues of their use; analyze the results obtained.Tasks: to formulate the disadvantages and problematic issues of distraction osteogenesis in patients with segmental defects of the leg bones after fractures; to propose a solution to the existing disadvantages of the method; analyze the results.78 victims met the inclusion criteria. 36 patients were operated on according to the proposed method; they made up the core group; 42 – comparison group, treatment was carried out according to the generally accepted method. The time spent in the external fixation apparatus and the index of external fixation were used as criteria for evaluating the results; the final assessment was carried out according to the anatomical and functional scale Modified Functional Evaluation System by Karlstrom–Olerud.Our results (good and excellent 77.8 %; unsatisfactory in 2.8 % are comparable to those of most researchers. Anatomical and functional results in the main group with a high degree of probability (˃95 %) exceeded the results in the comparison group.Bearing in mind the severity of the defeat, we find this result encouraging. Given the insufficient number of observations, it is necessary to recommend the use of the proposed improvements in the use of RF in the treatment of nonunions of the shin bones after fractures and further study of their effectiveness.Thus, nonunion of the tibia requires complex treatment using osteosynthesis with ring fixators. Spoke-rod designs of the apparatus, gentle technique, optimal ways of guiding the pins, transition to final fixation using Softcast/Scotchcast systems, drug correction of regeneration disorders made it possible to avoid many complications of extrafocal fixation and obtain good results.

Reconstruction of massive tibial defect caused by osteomyelitis using induced membrane followed by trifocal bone transport technique: a retrospective study and our experience

Objective To evaluate clinical outcomes of the application of induced membrane followed by trifocal bone transport technique in the treatment of massive tibial defect caused by osteomyelitis. Method A total of 18 eligible patients with tibial defect > 6 cm caused by osteomyelitis who were admitted to our institution from January 2010 to January 2016 and treated by induced membrane followed by trifocal bone transport technique. There were 12 male and 6 females with an average age of 40.4 years old. A detailed demographic data (age, sex, etiology, previous operation time, defect size and location, interval from Masquelet technique to trifocal bone transport technique, external fixation index (EFI), duration of regenerate consolidation and docking union) were collected, bone and functional outcomes were evaluated by Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) scoring system. Complications during and in the period of follow up were recorded and evaluated by Paley classification at a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Results The etiology include posttraumatic osteomyelitis in 13 cases and primary osteomyelitis in 5 cases. An average of previous operation time was 3.4 times. Mean tibial defect after radical debridement was 6.8 cm. An average interval duration from formation of induced membrane to trifocal bone transport was 4.8 weeks. An average of EFI was 37.1 days/cm, the duration of regenerate consolidation and docking union were 124.7 days and 186.4 days, respectively. An average time of follow-up after removal of external fixator was 28.5 month without recurrence of osteomyelitis. The bony outcome was excellent in 6 cases, good in 8 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 1 case, and functional outcome was excellent in 4 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 2 cases and poor in 2 cases. The most common complication was pin tract infection which occurred in 15 cases and there were no major complications such as nerve or vascular injury. Conclusion Massive tibial defect caused by osteomyelitis can be successfully treated first stage using induced membrane followed by second stage using trifocal bone transport technique, which is an effective method in terms of radical elimination of osteomyelitis with expected clinical outcomes.

Analysis of bone transport for ankle arthrodesis as a limb salvage procedure for the treatment of septic pilon fracture nonunion

Septic nonunion of the pilon region with ankle joint infection is challenging for orthopedic surgeons to treat and is associated with a high risk of limb loss. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bone transport for ankle arthrodesis in salvaging the limp after septic ankle destruction of the pilon region. We conducted a single-center, retrospective study including 21 patients treated for septic pilon nonunion with accompanying septic ankle destruction via Ilizarov bone transport between 2004 and 2018. In all cases, the complete excision of the nonunion and the resection of the ankle joint were carried out, followed by treating the bone and joint defect with a bone transport into the ankle arthrodesis. In 12/21 patients an additional flap transfer was required due to an accompanying soft tissue lesion. The overall healing and failure rate, final alignment and complications were recorded by the patients’ medical files. The bone-related and functional results were evaluated according to the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI) scoring system and a modified American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale. After a mean follow-up of 30.9 ± 15.7 months (range 12–63 months), complete bone and soft tissue healing occurred in 18/21 patients (85.7%). The patients had excellent (5), good (7), fair (4), and poor (3) results based on the ASAMI functional score. Regarding bone stock, 6 patients had excellent, 7 good, and 6 fair results. The modified AOFAS score reached 60.6 ± 18 points (range, 29–86). In total, 33 minor complications and 28 major complications occurred during the study period. In 2 cases, a proximal lower leg amputation was performed due to a persistent infection and free flap necrosis with a large soft tissue defect, whereas in one case, persistent nonunion on the docking side was treated with a carbon orthosis because the patient refused to undergo an additional surgery. Bone transport for ankle arthrodesis offers the possibility of limb salvage after septic ankle destruction of the pilon region, with acceptable bony and functional results. However, a high number of complications and surgical revisions are associated with the treatment of this severe complication after pilon fracture.

Bone Defects in Tibia Managed by the Bifocal Versus Trifocal Bone Transport Technique

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and determine the differences, if any, between trifocal and bifocal bone transport technique in the reconstruction of long segmental tibial bone defects caused by infection using a monolateral rail external fixator. Methods: A total of 53 consecutive patients with long segmental tibial bone defects caused by infection and treated by monolateral rail external fixator in our department were retrospectively collected and analyzed from January 2013 to April 2019, including 39 males and 14 females with an average age of 38.8±12.4 years (range 19 to 65 years). 32 patients were treated by bifocal bone transport (BFT) technique, and the other 21 patients were managed by trifocal bone transport (TFT) technique. The demographic data, operation duration, docking time, external fixation time, and external fixation index were documented and analyzed. Difficulties that occur during the treatment were classified according to Paley. The clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov criteria (ASAMI) at the last clinical visit.Results: All patients achieved an infection-free union finally, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in demographic data and both ASAMI bone and functional scores (P>0.05). The mean defect size and operation duration in TFT (9.4±1.5 cm, 161.9±8.9 minutes) were larger than that in BFT (7.8±1.8 cm, 122.5±11.2 minutes) (P<0.05). The mean docking time, external fixation time, and external fixation index in TFT (65.9±10.8 days, 328.0±57.2 days, 34.8±2.1 days/cm) were all less than those in BFT (96.8±22.6 days, 474.5±103.2 days, 60.8±1.9 days/cm) (P<0.05). Difficulties and complications were more prevalent in the BFT group, while less in the TFT group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Both the trifocal and bifocal bone transport technique in the reconstruction of long segmental tibial bone defects caused by infection using a monolateral rail external fixator achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes. The trifocal bone transport technique can significantly decrease the docking time, external fixation time, external fixation index, difficulties, and complications compared with the bifocal bone transport technique.

Risk factors of pin tract infection during bone transport using unilateral external fixator in the treatment of bone defects

Background The bone transport using the unilateral external fixator, one of the Ilizarov techniques, is widely practiced in lower limb reconstructive surgery. Pin tract infection (PTI), one of most common complication, has become the important postoperative problems which plague clinicians gradually. Methods A group of 130 patients who received bone transport surgery for tibia or femur defects using the unilateral external fixation (Orthofix limb reconstruction system, Verona, Italy) and met the inclusion criteria were selected for the study from 2015 to 2019. Regular pin tract care was performed twice a day, and the conditions of the pin tract were evaluated by the same observer using clinical appearance criteria. The Saw’s classification of PTI was used to assess the condition around screws. After the data were significant by the T-test or Pearson’s Chi-square test analyzed, odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression tests to describe factors associated with the diagnosis of PTI. Results Ninety-one males and thirty-nine females with a mean age of 43 years (range 28–58 years) were included in this cohort. 7816 observations were documented from 12 to 36 months, and 58 cases (44.6%) of PTI (thirty-nine cases in grade 1, 17 cases in grade 2, and 2 cases in grade 3). The top five risk factors were agricultural work (OR 1.86, CI 0.94–2.39), non-urban living (OR 1.75, CI 1.24–3.26), male (OR 1.71, CI 1.02–2.31), smoking (OR 1.53, CI 0.76–1.89), and diabetes (OR 1.26, CI 1.12–2.64). No long-term sequelae were observed at the latest clinical visit. Conclusion Occupation, gender, living environment (non-urban), smoking, and diabetes were the top five significant risk factors for PTI in the period of bone transport using unilateral external fixation. Awareness of predictable risk factors of PTI is beneficial to avoid or early detect the severe complications which can affect the effectiveness.