Limb Reconstruction Using Masquelet Technique in the Treatment of Post-traumatic Compound Tibial Fractures with Bone Loss

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Traumatic segmental bone defects of leg are difficult problem to manage with significant long-term morbidity.Historically, due to difficulty in managing segmental bone defects, amputation was the preferred treatment. Later over the lasthalf-century, limb salvage was done using various techniques such as vascularized fibular grafts, acute limb shortening, externalfixator application, and filling the defect with autograft or allograft. More recently, Masquelet described the use of cement spacerapplication within this defect and staged bone grafting within the induced biomembrane formed around the spacer as a potentialtreatment strategy to manage these bone defects.Method: This study describes the clinical, radiological, and functional outcome in 20 patients with traumatic bone loss of up to5 cm managed using Masquelet technique.Results: The outcome was analyzed using Association for the study and application of methods of ilizarov (ASAMI) scorewhich showed excellent results in 10 patients, good in 5 patients, fair in 2 patients, and poor in 3 patients.Conclusion: We conclude that the induced membrane technique can be a valuable addition to the armamentarium of limbreconstruction procedures in patients with small bone defects with or without soft tissue injury.