Treatment of Tibial Bone Defect by Internal Bone Transport Using Ilizarov Method / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

We reviewed twenty-six tibial bone defects which had been treated by internal bone transport to evaluate the results and complications and of the Ilizarov method. The causes of defects were open fracture(13 cases) and infected non-union(13 cases) The mean bone defect was 8.2 cm, ranging from 2 cm to 20 cm, in open fracture and 6.5 cm, ranging from 2 cm to 17 cm, in infected nonunion. All cases attained bone union. The mean radiologic consolidation index was 1.3 month/cm. The mean external fixation time was 18.5 months, ranging from 4 months to 33 months. Complications were pin-tract infection(20 cases), equines contracture of ankle(4 cases), knee flexion contracture(1 case), axial deviation(5 cases), valgus deformity of ankle(1 case), leg length discrepancy(7 cases), stress fracture at corticotomy site(2 cases), delayed union(1 case), infection recurrence(1 case), soft tissue invagination(3 cases) and refracture(2 case). The Ilizarov method is a useful treatment for tibial bone defects. Bone grafting at the docking site is recommended in order to shorten the treatment time and to avoid refracture and nonunion.