Treatment of Patients with Bone Defects and Nonunion by External Fixator and Vascularized Bone Graft

Abstract

We often experience difficulty in the treatment of bone defects and nonunion occurring after trauma. This time, we report two cases treated with external fixator and free vascularized bone graft. Case 1 was a 51-year-old man who was injured when he fell down the stairs. Open fracture of the left tibia was diagnosed and bone loss of two-thirds of the entire circumference of the tibia was found. Case 2 was a 32-year-old man who was hit by an iron bar dropping onto his left lower leg. Open left proximal diaphyseal tibial fracture was found. We treated the two fractures using Ilizarov external fixation and free bone graft but bone union was not obtained. However, bone union was achieved with vascularized iliac bone graft.