Combined single-stage osseous and soft tissue reconstruction of the tibia with the Ilizarov method and tissue transfer

Objective: To determine the outcome of single-stage soft tissue and osseous reconstruction using the Ilizarov method and soft-tissue transfer. Design: A retrospective review. Setting: A university-affiliated, tertiary-care center. Patients/Intervention: We identified 11 patients from a retrospective review from January 1994 to July 1999 who underwent single-stage soft tissue and osseous reconstruction using the Ilizarov method. All I I patients had an initial traumatic mechanism to their tibia and had previous operative intervention before the combined procedure. The Ilizarov procedure was performed for infected tibial nonunion (8 cases), or complex fracture with soft-tissue loss (3 cases). Main Outcome Measurements: Soft tissue transplant survival, union, range of motion, leg length discrepancy, the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) score, radiographic parameters. Results: There were 8 concomitant free tissue flaps and 3 local pedicled flaps. Two patients had primary bone grafting, and 5 others had addition of an antibiotic impregnated bone substitute. There were 8 cases of elective reconstructive surgery and 3 cases of acute traumatic fracture. The mean duration of Ilizarov application was 26 weeks (range, 7 to 42). Eight tibiae united primarily, and 3 healed after delayed bone grafting. There were 2 major flap complications. Both were successfully managed with repeat surgery. One patient sustained a repeat open fracture and subsequently received an amputation. According to the ASAMI score, there were 9 excellent results, 1 good result, and 1 poor result. Conclusion: Our study suggests that concomitant osseous and soft-tissue reconstruction with the Ilizarov technique and free or pedicled flaps is a viable option for patients with composite tissue defects.