Simultaneous Treatment Of Tibial Bone And Soft-tissue Defects With The â…  Lizarov Method

Treatment of posttraumatic defects of the tibia accompanied by severe soft-tissue injuries in open fractures has continued to be a challenge for traumatic surgeons.This article introduces the following two methods to close the bone and soft-tissue defects. One is using Ilizarov fixator to gradually close the bone and soft-tissue defects simultaneously by the method of monofocal shortening or bifocal or trifocal bone transport.The other method described in this report involves acute shortening and temporary bony deformation with the Ilizarov apparatus to facilitate wound closure. Once the wound is healed, osseous deformity and length are gradually corrected by distraction osteogenesis with the Ilizarov frame.In conclusion, the Ilizarov method can be used successfully to reconstruct the leg with tibial bone loss and an accompanying soft-tissue defect. This limb salvage method can be used in patients who are not believed to be candidates for ?ap coverage. This was a method of limb salvage.