Parameter selection for steel ring of Ilizarov external fixation in the treatment of tibial bone defects / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:There was no effective method to thoroughly treat tibial bone defect and soft tissue defect. The application of Ilizarov technique solved shortening deformity, soft tissue injury and joint contracture to some degrees. OBJECTIVE:To discuss the effects of Ilizarov external fixation on treatment of tibial bone defect and the parameter selection of Ilizarov steel ring. METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 67 patients with tibial bone defects, who were treated and fol owed up from March 2007 to January 2012. Al patients had fracture of tibia and received one-stage operation. After treatment, postoperative limb suffered from tibia osteomyelitis and soft tissue injury. Ilizarov external fixation was placed in the limb. The length of defected tibia and area of defected soft tissues were compared at 1, 3 and 6 months after external fixation and final fol ow-up. The ankle joint Kofoed score and knee joint ROM score were observed before and after external fixation. In final fol ow-up, functional recovery was evaluated in accordance with diagnosis and treatment criteria of Johner-Wruhs fracture of shaft of tibia. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 67 patients were fol owed up for 6 to 35 months. Bone defects in 67 cases were rebuilt and the fracture was healed, but five cases had poor healing. Among 44 cases of soft tissue injury, wound had healed in 40 cases, and wound had not healed in 4 cases. The length of tibia defect and the area of soft tissue defects were improved at 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation (P<0.05). After operation, the ankle joint Kofoed score and knee joint ROM were significantly better than those before operation (P<0.05). During final fol ow-up, the excellent and good rate of each therapeutic plan was 85%. For the tibial osteomyelitis bone defect with the merged skin defect, the trauma was smal using Ilizarov technique, which can avoid several complicated operations, shorten the time and reduce the expenses of treatment, but there were some weaknesses and limitations. The size and material of Ilizarov external fixation affect the efficiency of the fixation and postfixation adjustment.