ArticleBMC surgery2022
Efficacy comparison of trifocal bone transport using unilateral external fixator for femoral and tibial bone defects caused by infection.
Article in BMC surgery, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Tibial bone transport using external fixation in adults: a systematic review.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2026Pooled it
- Ilizarov method and its combined methods in the treatment of long bone defects of the lower extremity: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Pooled it
- Strategic considerations in the treatment of infected nonunion in the lower extremity: a narrative review.International journal of surgery (London, England) · 2026Article
- Bone transport combined with internal fixation in post-traumatic distal humerus defects and nonunions: retrospective analysis of 16 patients.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Cable-asisted bone transport versus circular external fixators-asisted bone transport in the management of bone defects of the Tibia: clinical and imaging results.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Locking compression plate as a sequential external fixator following the distraction phase for the treatment of tibial bone defects caused by fracture-related infection: experiences from 22 cases.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Nomogram construction and validation of axial deviation in patients with tibial defects treated with the Ilizarov bone transport technique.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Treatment of tibial bone defects caused by infection: a retrospective comparative study of bone transport using a combined technique of unilateral external fixation over an intramedullary nail versus circular external fixation over an intramedullary nail.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Plate-assisted bone-segment transport in the femur with 2 internal lengthening nails: a technical note and a case report.Acta orthopaedica · 2023Article
- Complications associated with single-level bone transport for the treatment of tibial bone defects caused by fracture-related infection.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Article
- Risk factors of transport gap bending deformity in the treatment of critical-size bone defect after bone transport.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2022Article
- Comparison of Iliac Bone Transplantation with Bone Transport in the Treatment of Femur Fracture and Bone Defect.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of patients with femoral and tibial critical-sized bone defect (CSBD) treated by trifocal bone transport using the Ilizarov method.
methodsFrom March 2011 and January 2017, clinical and radiographic data of patients with CSBD (> 6 cm) caused by infection were documented and analyzed. Patients were divided into the femur group (n = 18) and tibia groups (n = 21) according to the location of bone transport. The bone and functional outcomes were evaluated according to the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of the Ilizarov (ASAMI) criterion, and postoperative complications were evaluated by Paley classification.
resultsA total of 39 patients were managed by the trifocal bone transport for the femur (n = 18) or tibia (n = 21) bone defects with a mean follow-up time of 26.1 months (range 17-34 months). Eighteen femurs and 21 tibias with a mean distraction regenerate length (DRL) of 8.3 cm (range 6-13 cm) and 7.5 cm (range 6-11 cm) respectively. Infection was eradicated in all patients, and the total bone union was received in all cases (100%). Statistical difference of bone grade (excellent/good/fair/poor, 3/11/3/1 vs 2/13/4/2, P < 0.05), and function grade (excellent/good/fair/poor, 3/14/1/0 vs 4/13/3/1, P < 0.05) were respectively observed between the femur group and tibia group. The excellent and good rate of bone (femur vs tibia, 77.8% vs 71.4%), and function grade (femur vs tibia, 94.4% vs 80.9%) was higher in the femur group than the tibia. The rate of complication in the femur group was lower than in the tibia (femur vs tibia, 94.4% vs 76.2%). One femur and five tibias were performed additional surgery for delayed union and axial deviation.
conclusionsThe trifocal bone transport using the unilateral external fixator was a practical method in the management of CSBD in the lower extremity. The BUT and EFI of the femur group were shorter than the tibia. Although the complications noted were more frequent on the femur, these were mostly minor.
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