The document discusses the management of bone defects, particularly segmental defects that require intervention for healing. It outlines various causes, classifications, and treatment options, including autografts, vascularized grafts, membrane-induced techniques, and bone transport. Key factors influencing effective management include mechanical stability, a favorable biological environment, and considerations for patient health, such as tobacco cessation and glycemic control.

1. Management of Bone Defects
Abdallah El-Azanki MBBS, MSc
Trauma & Orthopedic Surgery
Clinical Fellow Limb Lengthening & Deformity Correction
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Mansoura University
Cedar Tree of
Lebanon

2.  Segmental defect is a bone void that will not fill without intervention
 In adult patients, a critical bone defect generally has circumferential
loss > 50% or a length of > 2 cm.
 Loss maybe:
 Cavitary
 Segmental
Segmental bone defect is difficult to characterize
because diagnosis is subjective.
Definition of Segmental Defect

3.  Bone healing is predicated on:
 Mechanical stability
 Favorable biologic environment
 Tobacco cessation
 Glycemic control
 Nutritional optimization
 Management of metabolic and endocrine

4. 4- Congenital Anomalies
Causes of Segmental Skeletal Defect:
1- High Energy Trauma
2- Debridement of bone
after infection
3- Tumor Resection

5. Types of Skeletal Defect
Intercalary Defect
Segmental Defect
with shortening
Combined

6. Solomin Classification of Bone Defect

7.  Management of bone defect is one of the most difficult
problem in orthopedic surgery.
 In addition to bone defect one or more of the following factors
are usually involved:
 Limb shortening
 Deformity
Infection
Soft tissue deficiency
Neurovascular insufficiency

8. Techniques for the management of bone loss
Suitability by the anatomical location and the size of the defect

9. Management options for Segmental Skeletal
Defects (status dependent)
1. Autograft (Golden Standard)
2. Vascularized graft (Fibula,Iliac crest, Rib)
3. Membrane Induced Technique (Masquelet)
4. Bone Transport
5. Acute shortening and Lengthening

10.  Autologous cancellous bone graft acts mainly as an
osteoconductive substrate, with smaller contributions of osteogenic
cells and osteoinductive factors.
 If defects > 5 cm bone graft is subject to
resorption caused by revascularization and clearance of
necrotic graft tissue
Autograft (Golden Standard)

11. Open diaphyseal fracture of the femur with comminution following
debridement and intramedullary Nailing then bone grafting and union.

12. Iliac Autograft

13. Vascularized graft (Fibula,Iliac crest, Rib)
 VFG Introduced in 1970s as microvascular surgical techniques .
 VFG has been the preferred choice for management of segmental
defects >10 cm
 With improved induced membrane and distraction osteogenesis
techniques, VFG has lost its popularity.

14.  Procedure is technically demanding
 Time consuming
 May be associated with major complications
 Not available in all centers
Vascularized graft Technique:

15. Membrane Induced Technique (Masquelet)
1. creates a separate “privileged” compartment (limiting autograft
resorption)
2. PMMA spacer maintains the defect space for delayed bone
grafting.
3. Induced membrane is rich in growth factors
 vascular endothelial growth factor
 Transforming growth factor-b1
 Bone morphogenetic protein-2,
 Core-binding factor a-1
 Benefits:
Improve graft consolidation by stimulating cell proliferation and
differentiation into osteoblastic lineage

16.  Bone defect is stabilized with external fixation (originally) or
internal fixation
 Second stage is typically completed 6 to 8 weeks later
 Allows for reconstruction of large segmental bone defects (5-24
cm) with a minimal number of interventions compared with other
reconstructive techniques.
Needs sufficient Autograft and in Allo-Autograft state must be in
ratio of 3:1.

17. The use of allograft avoids potential donor site morbidity and
overcomes the limitations in size and shape of the autograft.
 Infection
 Refracture
 Disease transmission

18. Debridement , Nailing & PMMA
Masquelet Case -1 (Autograft)

19. PMMA removal , Autograft & Healing
Masquelet Case -1

20. Masquelet Case -2 (Auto-Allograft)

21. Masquelet Case -2

22. Masquelet Case -2

23. Masquelet Case -2

24. Bone Transport
Ilizarov discovered this method while treating nonunions with a
fine-wire circular frame and carefully refined the technique in a
series of animal studies.
Transport can be done by many devises (Ilizarov, TSF, LRS,
Nails…)
 Transport at a rate of 1mm per day
 Once the transport segment reaches the far end of the
defect (docking site) the segment is compressed for
several weeks until fracture callus forms unless graft
needed.

25.  Advantages of using distraction osteogenesis:
 Reliability
 Minimal risk of further injury to soft tissues
 Ability to bear weight during the reconstruction
 No limits for the size of the defect reconstruction
 The main disadvantage is the length of time required for reconstruction (an average
of 10 to 12 months for a defect 10 cm in size) and the resultant psychological burden
on patients.
 Pintract infection in 80% of cases.

27. Bone Transport Case - 1

28. Bone Transport Case -2

29. Bone Transport Case -2

30. Bone Transport Case -3

31. During distraction the blood supply of the limb
increases by about 6 times than normal  Fires the
infection.

32. 0 2 4 6 12 16 20 24 28 W
10
8
6
4
2
0
Aronson 1994
Infection is burnt in the fire of
regeneration.
Blood supply of the limb during distraction

33. Ideal substitute bone graft material must contain three elements:
 Osteoconductive matrix
 Osteoinductive proteins
 Osteogenic cells.
Most bone graft substitutes can provide some, but not all of these elements
Bone Substitute Status !!
Bone Substitute can be used for small intercalary defects only

34. Thank You