ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024
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.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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9 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- [Minimally invasive hemi-cortical longitudinal bone transport technique for treatment of bone and soft tissue defects after tibial osteomyelitis surgery].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2026Article
- Orthoplastic surgery for interdisciplinary extremity reconstruction.Innovative surgical sciences · 2026Article
- Article
- Article
- Reconstructive Strategies in Post-Traumatic Osteomyelitis of the Lower Limb: A Case Series and Surgical Algorithm Analysis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Dual release scaffolds as a promising strategy for enhancing bone regeneration: an updated review.Nanomedicine (London, England) · 2025Review
- Outcome of limb lengthening as a treatment for shortening following successful replantation of traumatic leg amputation: experience with 21 patients.Frontiers in surgery · 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
- Objective assessment of docking site consolidation in bone transport: the role of pixel value ratio in predicting healing outcomes.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundThe purpose of the study was to assess and compare the clinical efficacy of bone transport with either circular or unilateral external fixators over an intramedullary nail in the treatment of tibial bone defects caused by infection.
methodsBetween May 2010 and January 2019, clinical and radiographic data were collected and analyzed for patients with bone defects caused by infection. Thirteen patients underwent bone transport using a unilateral external fixator over an intramedullary nail (Group A), while 12 patients were treated with a circular external fixator over an intramedullary nail (Group B). The bone and functional outcomes of both groups were assessed and compared using the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of the Ilizarov criteria, and postoperative complications were evaluated according to the Paley classification.
resultsA total of 25 patients were successfully treated with bone transport using external fixators over an intramedullary nail, with a mean follow-up time of 31.63 ± 5.88 months. There were no significant statistical differences in age, gender, previous surgery per patient, duration of infection, defect size, and follow-up time between Group A and Group B (P > 0.05). However, statistically significant differences were observed in operation time (187.13 ± 21.88 min vs. 255.76 ± 36.42 min, P = 0.002), intraoperative blood loss (39.26 ± 7.33 mL vs. 53.74 ± 10.69 mL, P < 0.001), external fixation time (2.02 ± 0.31 month vs. 2.57 ± 0.38 month, P = 0.045), external fixation index (0.27 ± 0.08 month/cm vs. 0.44 ± 0.09 month/cm, P = 0.042), and bone union time (8.37 ± 2.30 month vs. 9.07 ± 3.12, P = 0.032) between Group A and Group B. The excellent and good rate of bone and functional results were higher in Group A compared to Group B (76.9% vs. 75% and 84.6% vs. 58.3%). Statistically significant differences were observed in functional results (excellent/good/fair/poor, 5/6/2/0 vs. 2/5/4/1, P = 0.013) and complication per patient (0.38 vs. 1.16, P = 0.012) between Group A and Group B.
conclusionsBone transport using a combined technique of external fixators over an intramedullary nail proved to be an effective method in treating tibial bone defects caused by infection. In comparison to circular external fixators, bone transport utilizing a unilateral external fixator over an intramedullary nail resulted in less external fixation time, fewer complications, and better functional outcomes.
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