ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of induced membrane technique of hollow porous antibioticimpregnated bone cement forming in vitro and lavage in vivo for the treatment of osteomyelitis. MethodsBetween January 2010 and March 2014, 14 cases of osteomyelitis were treated by induced membrane technique of hollow porous antibiotic-impregnated bone cement forming in vitro and lavage in vivo after debridement at the first stage, then the bone cement with bone graft was replaced during the induced membrane after infection was controlled at the second stage. The time from first to second stage operation was 8-12 weeks (average, 10.2 weeks). There were 11 males and 3 females, aged 18 to 69 years (average, 39.2 years). According to Cierny-Mader classification of osteomyelitis, 2 cases were rated as intramedullary type, 5 cases as limited type, and 7 cases as diffusing type. The course of osteomyelitis was 3 months to 20 years, averaged 1.9 years. The healing of bone defect and the functionary recovery of adjacent joint were evaluated according to Paley's method. ResultsDebridement was performed for two times in 1 case, and for one time in 13 cases for control of bone infection at the first stage. All incisions healed by first intention after second stage. All patients were followed up 15-48 months (average, 13.4 months), with no recurrence of infection. All bone defects healed, and the clinical healing time was 4-5 months (average, 4.4 months). The results of bone healing grade were excellent in all cases at 1 year after operation; the functional recovery of adjacent joint at last follow-up was excellent in 4 cases, good in 8 cases, and fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 85.7%. ConclusionInduced membrane technique of hollow porous antibiotic-impregnated bone cement forming in vitro and lavage in vivo for treatment of osteomyelitis has the advantages of high rate of elution of antibiotics, ease of lavage of medullary cavity, and no damage to induced membrane and bony interface between bone and bone cement when removing cement, it is effective for control of bone infection and repair of bone defect.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of induced membrane technique in the treatment of infectious bone defect. Methods Thirty-six patients (37 bone lesions) with infectious bone defects were treated with induced membrane technique between January 2011 and June 2014. There were 28 males and 8 females with an average age of 36 years (range, 20-68 years). All bone defects were post-traumatic infectious bone defect. The bone defect was located at the tibia and fibula in 24 cases (25 bone lesions), at femurs in 6 cases (6 bone lesions), at ulnas and radii in 2 cases (2 bone lesions), at calcanei in 3 cases (3 bone lesions), and at clavicle in 1 case (1 bone lesion). The average time between onset and the treatment of induced membrane technique was 6.2 months (range, 0.5-36.0 months); 15 patients were acute infections (disease duration was less than 3 months). At the first stage, after the removal of internal fixator (applicable for the patients who had internal fixation), complete debridement of infection necrotic bone tissue and surrounding soft tissue was performed and the bone defects were filled with antibiotic-impregnated cement spacers. If the bone was unstable after debridement, external fixator or plaster could be used for stabilization. Patients received sensitive antibiotics postoperatively. At the second stage (usually 6-8 weeks later), the cement spacer were removed, with preservation of the induced membrane formed by the spacer, and filled the bone defect with autologous iliac bone graft within the membrane. Results The hospitalization time after debridement was 17-30 days (mean, 22.2 days), and the hospitalization time after the second stage was 7-14 days (mean, 10 days). All the flaps healed uneventfully in 16 cases treated with local flap transposition or free flap grafting after debridement. One patient of femur fracture received Ilizarov treatment after recurrence of infection at 11 months after operation; 1 patient of distal femoral fracture received amputation after recurrence of infection at 1 month after operation; 1 patient of distal end of tibia and fibula fractures received ankle arthrodesis after repeated debridements due to the recurrence of infection; 1 patient of tibia and fibula fractures lost to follow-up. The other 32 patients (33 bone lesions) were followed up 1-5 years (mean, 2 years) without infection recurrence, and the infection control rate was 91.7% (33/36). All the patients had bony union, and the healing time was 4-12 months (mean, 7.5 months); no refracture occurred. One patient of femur bone defect had a lateral angulation of 15° and leg discrepancy of 1.5 cm. Superficial pin infection was observed in 7 cases and healed after intensive wound care and oral antibiotics. Adjacent joint function restriction were observed in 6 cases at last follow-up. Conclusion Induced membrane technique is a simple and reliable technique for the treatment of infectious bone defect. The technique is not limited to the size of the bone defect and the effectiveness is satisfactory.