Objective To summarize the progress of Masquelet technique to repair bone defect. Methods The recent literature concerning the application of Masquelet technique to repair bone defect was extensively reviewed and summarized. Results Masquelet technique involves a two-step procedure. First, bone cement is used to fill the bone defect after a thorough debridement, and an induced membrane structure surrounding the spacer formed; then the bone cement is removed after 6-8 weeks, and rich cancellous bone is implanted into the induced membrane. Massive cortical bone defect is repaired by new bone forming and consolidation. Experiments show that the induced membrane has vascular system and is also rich in vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor β1, bone morphogenetic protein 2, and bone progenitor cells, so it has osteoinductive property; satisfactory results have been achieved in clinical application of almost all parts of defects, various types of bone defect and massive defect up to 25 cm long. Compared with other repair methods, Masquelet technique has the advantages of reliable effect, easy to operate, few complications, low requirements for recipient site, and wide application. Conclusion Masquelet technique is an effective method to repair bone defect and is suitable for various types of bone defect, especially for bone defects caused by infection and tumor resection.
ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effect of Masquelet technique combined with tissue flap grafting for bone defect and soft tissue defect. MethodsBetween August 2012 and April 2015, 18 cases of bone defect and soft tissue defect were treated by using Masquelet technique combined with tissue flap grafting. There were 11 males and 7 females, aged from 23 to 59 years (mean, 37.1 years). The time between injury and treatment was 15 days to 39 months (mean, 0.9 months). Defect located at the proximal tibia in 4 cases, at the middle tibia in 8 cases, at the distal tibia in 4 cases, and at the lateral heel in 2 cases. All patients were treated with debridement. After debridement, the bone defect was (5.7±1.8) cm in length, and the soft tissue defect was 5 cm×4 cm to 13 cm×11 cm in size. In one-stage operation, bone defect was repaired with the antibiotic cement and fracture was fixed by temporary external fixation. The surfaces of wound were repaired with tissue flap. After 6 to 8 weeks when wounds healed with no sign of infection, bone grafting from iliac bone and/or fibula was performed in two-stage operation. ResultsEighteen patients followed up 10-38 months (mean, 24.3 months). After one-stage operation, 6 cases had pin track infection, which was cured by strengthened disinfection and oral antibiotics. All the tissue flaps survived. Bone healing was observed on X-ray film at 15-57 weeks (mean, 25.3 weeks) after two-stage operation. The function of the knee and ankle joint recovered well. According to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score for the ankle joint, the scores of ankle function ranged from 74 to 98, with an average of 89.7; the results were excellent in 7 cases, good in 10 cases, and fair in 1 case. ConclusionThe Masquelet technique combined with tissue flap grafting is an effective method to treat bone defect and soft tissue defect.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of Masquelet technique combined with flap transplantation in treatment of infectious bone and soft tissue defects of the lower leg.MethodsBetween January 2013 and January 2017, 35 cases of infectious bone and soft tissue defects of lower leg were treated with Masquelet technique combined with flap transplantation. There were 21 males and 14 females, with an average of 31.5 years (mean, 25-55 years). All patients were tibial fractures caused by trauma and the infections occurred after debridement or internal fixation. The time from injury to admission was 1 to 6 months, with an average of 3.2 months. Defect located at the proximal leg in 11 cases, the middle leg in 11 cases, and the distal leg in 13 cases. The length of tibia defect after debridement ranged from 5.6 to 11.2 cm, with an average of 7.1 cm. The size of soft tissue defect ranged from 14.2 cm×6.9 cm to 17.3 cm×8.7 cm. Bacterial culture of purulent secretion of wound was positive in 18 cases. After debridement, the bone cement was used to fill the bone defect and the flap transplantation was used to repair the wound. The bone cement was taken out at 8 to 12 weeks after the one-stage operation, and the bone defect was repaired with autogenous iliac bone or combined with artificial bone.ResultsThree cases had necrosis at the distal edge of the flap after one-stage operation, and survived after dressing change. The other flaps survived successfully, and the wounds healed by first intention. All incisions healed by first intention after two-stage operation. All patients were followed up 24-32 months, with an average of 27 months. The color of the flap was similar to that of the surrounding normal tissue, and its texture was good. X-ray reexamination showed that all bone defects healed after 6-8 months, with an average of 6.7 months. At 9 months after two-stage operation, according to the revised Edwards tibial fracture evaluation standard, 19 cases were excellent, 14 cases were good, and 2 cases were poor, the excellent and good rate was 94.3%. The American Orthopedic Ankle Association (AOFAS) score was 60-98, with an average of 81.3. And 21 cases were excellent, 11 were good, and 3 were fair, with an excellent and good rate of 91.4%.ConclusionMasquelet technique combined with flap transplantation is an effective treatment for infectious bone and soft tissue defects of lower leg.
ObjectiveTo observe the expressions of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induced membrane by Masquelet technique in rats treated with glycoside of short-horned epimedium Herb, and to explore the effect of glycoside of short-horned epimedium Herb on Masquelet induced membrane.MethodsSixty 3-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups with 20 rats in each group; a tibial bone defect (6 mm in length) model was established. The blank group (group A) was not treated; the control group (group B) and the experimental group (group C) were filled with vancomycin antibiotic bone cement in the drawing stage, and the bone cement was completely solidified. Group C was given perfused flavonoids glycoside of short-horned epimedium Herb (10 μmol/L) by gavage once a day (0.3 mL) from 1 day after operation, and groups A and B were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage. After operation, the recovery and wound healing of experimental animals were observed; at 4 weeks after operation, X-ray film was taken to observe the recovery of bone defect of proximal tibia; at 6 weeks after operation, the bone defect was observed, and the morphological changes and vascularization degree of granulation tissue and induction membrane tissue were observed; the expressions of TGF-β1 and bFGF were observed by immunohistochemistry staining and ELISA detection.ResultsThe bone defect models of the 3 groups were established successfully, and there was no abnormality after operation. The incisions healed by first intention after operation. At 4 weeks after operation, X-ray films of proximal tibial defect showed that there was obvious space in group A, while bone cement was filled and Kirschner wire fixation was good in groups B and C. At 6 weeks after operation, the gross observation showed that the granulation tissue was filled in the defect area in group A; transparent membrane was formed in groups B and C, and microvessels were seen in some areas, and the microvessels in group C were significantly more than those in group B. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expressions of TGF-β1 and bFGF were negative in group A, but they were expressed in groups B and C, and the expressions of TGF-β1 and bFGF in group B were significantly less than those in group C. ELISA detection showed that the expressions of TGF-β1 and bFGF in group C were significantly higher than those in groups A and B (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and B (P>0.05). ConclusionGlycoside of short-horned epimedium Herb can significantly increase the expressions of TGF-β1 and bFGF, accelerate the process of osteogenesis, and contribute to bone shaping and reconstruction.
Objective To investigate the optimal mixing ratio of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) with porous calcium phosphate cement (PCPC) and autologous bone as bone grafting material for the repair of large bone defects using Masquelet technique. The effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the healing of bone defects was evaluated under the optimal ratio of mixed bone. Methods Fifty-four New Zealand White rabbits were taken to establish a 2 cm long bone defect model of the ulna and treated using the Masquelet technique. Two parts of the experiment were performed in the second phase of the Masquelet technique. First, 36 modeled experimental animals were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=9) according to the mass ratio of autologous bone and rhBMP-2/PCPC. Group A: autologous bone (100%); group B: 25% autologous bone+75% rhBMP-2/PCPC; group C: 50% autologous bone+50% rhBMP-2/PCPC; group D: 75% autologous bone+25% rhBMP-2/PCPC. The animals were executed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively for general observation, imaging observation, histological observation (HE staining), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, and biomechanical assay (three-point bending test) were performed to assess the osteogenic ability and to determine the optimal mixing ratio. Then, 18 modeled experimental animals were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=9). The control group was implanted with the optimal mixture ratio of autologous bone+rhBMP-2/PCPC, and the experimental group was implanted with the optimal mixture ratio of autologous bone+rhBMP-2/PCPC+autologous PRP. The same method was used to observe the above indexes at 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Results The bone healing process from callus formation to the cortical connection at the defected gap could be observed in each group after operation; new bone formation, bridging with the host bone, and bone remodeling to normal bone density were observed on imaging observation; new woven bone, new capillaries, bone marrow cavity, and other structures were observed on histological observation. The ALP activity of each group gradually increased with time (P<0.05); the ALP activity of group A was significantly higher than that of the other 3 groups at each time point after operation, and of groups C and D than group B (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between groups C and D (P>0.05). Biomechanical assay showed that the maximum load in three-point bending test of each group increased gradually with time (P<0.05), and the maximum loads of groups A and D were significantly higher than that of groups B and C at each time point after operation (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and D (P>0.05). According to the above tests, the optimal mixing ratio was 75% autogenous bone+25% rhBMP-2/PCPC. The process of new bone formation in the experimental group and the control group was observed by gross observation, imaging examination, and histological observation, and the ability of bone formation in the experimental group was better than that in the control group. The ALP activity and maximum load increased gradually with time in both groups (P<0.05); the ALP activity and maximum load in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group at each time point after operation (P<0.05), and the maximum load in the experimental group was also significantly higher than that in group A at 12 weeks after operation (P<0.05). ConclusionIn the second phase of Masquelet technique, rhBMP-2/PCPC mixed with autologous bone to fill the bone defect can treat large bone defect of rabbit ulna, and it has the best osteogenic ability when the mixing ratio is 75% autologous bone+25% rhBMP-2/PCPC. The combination of PRP can improve the osteogenic ability of rhBMP-2/PCPC and autologous bone mixture.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of homemade antibiotic bone cement rod in the treatment of tibial screw canal osteomyelitis by Masquelet technique. Methods A clinical data of 52 patients with tibial screw canal osteomyelitis met the criteria between October 2019 and September 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 28 males and 24 females, with an average age of 38.6 years (mean, 23-62 years). The tibial fractures were treated with internal fixation in 38 cases and external fixation in 14 cases. The duration of osteomyelitis was 6 months to 20 years with a median of 2.3 years. The bacterial culture of wound secretions showed 47 positive cases, of which 36 cases were infected with single bacteria and 11 cases were infected with mixed bacteria. After thorough debridement and removal of internal and external fixation devices, the locking plate was used to fixed the bone defect. The tibial screw canal was filled with the antibiotic bone cement rod. The sensitive antibiotics were given after operation and the 2nd stage treatment was performed after infection control. The antibiotic cement rod was removed and the bone grafting in the induced membrane was performed. After operation, the clinical manifestations, wound, inflammatory indexes, and X-ray films were monitored dynamically, and the postoperative bone infection control and bone graft healing were evaluated. Results Both patients successfully completed the two stages of treatments. All patients were followed up after the 2nd stage treatment. The follow-up time was 11 to 25 months (mean, 18.3 months). One patient had poor wound healing and the wound healed after enhanced dressing change. X-ray film showed that the bone grafting in the bone defect healed and the healing time was 3-6 months, with an average of 4.5 months. The patient had no recurrence of infection during the follow-up period. Conclusion For the tibial screw canal osteomyelitis, the homemade antibiotic bone cement rod can reduce the recurrence rate of infection and obtain a good effectiveness, and has the advantages of simple operation and less postoperative complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate the causes of spontaneous osteogenesis of Masquelet technique induced membrane. MethodsForty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7-9 weeks were selected to establish a critical-sized bone defect of the right middle femur model. Then the rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, with 12 rats in groups A-C and 6 rats in group D. The bone defects in groups A-C were filled with vancomycin-loaded polymethyl methacrylate bone cement spacers. Then the Kirschner wires were used for intramedullary fixation in groups A and B, and the bone cement was used to connect the bone cement spacers and the bone ends in group B. The steel plate was used to fixation in group C. The bone defect in group D was only fixed with steel plate as a blank control group. The general condition was observed after operation. At 5 weeks after operation, 6 rats in groups A-C were selected for STRO-1 immunohistochemical staining to observe the content of mesenchyme stem cells (MSCs) in the induced membrane (STRO-1+ cells). At 12 weeks after operation, the remaining rats in groups A-D were taken for X-ray observation, gross observation, and histological observation (HE, safranin O-green staining) to observe the spontaneous osteogenesis of the membrane.Results All rats in the 4 groups survived until the completion of the experiment. At 5 weeks after operation, the immunohistochemical staining showed that group B was negative, while the contents of MSCs in the induced membrane in groups A and C were 14.20%±1.92% and 5.00%±0.71%, respectively, with a significant difference (P<0.05). At 12 weeks after operation, group A showed that the new bone formed at the osteotomy site and growth towards the center of the bone defect, with an average length of 3.1 mm on one side; and the presence of bone, cartilage lesions, fibers, and a small amount of neovascularization were observed in the induced membrane. Group C only had a small amount of new bone at the osteotomy site, and a small amount of neovascularization in the induced membrane. Groups B and D did not have any new bone, but bone resorption or atrophy at the osteotomy site. ConclusionAlthough the Masquelet technique induced membrane has osteogenesis, the key factor for the spontaneous osteogenesis is the bone marrow overflow from the bone marrow cavity providing MSCs. The spontaneous osteogenesis of the induced membrane belongs to endochondral ossification.