ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of modified induced membrane technique and pedicled skin (myocutaneous) flap for chronic tibial osteomyelitis in patients with diabetes. Methods A clinical data of 22 diabetic patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis between January 2017 and March 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 15 males and 7 females with an average age of 52 years (range, 44-65 years). The course of diabetes was 3-12 years (mean, 6.1 years). The course of chronic osteomyelitis was 4 months to 7 years (mean, 3.3 years). The chronic osteomyelitis was rated as type Ⅲ in 9 cases and as type Ⅳ in 13 cases according to the Cierny-Mader classification criteria. Bacterial culture showed 21 cases of single bacterial infection and 1 case of mixed bacterial infection. Preoperative color Doppler ultrasound and CT angiography confirmed that the anterior and posterior tibial arteries were unobstructed. In the first stage of treatment, the bone and soft tissue defects were filled with antibiotic bone cement after the lesion was thoroughly debrided; the length of bone defect was 4-9 cm (mean, 5.6 cm), and the size of soft tissue defect was 5 cm×2 cm to 10 cm×7 cm. After 7-10 days, the bone cement was removed and a new antibiotic bone cement was filled into the bone defect. Meanwhile, the pedicled skin (myocutaneous) flap was performed to repair the wound. After 7-12 weeks, the inflammatory indexes returned to normal, autogenous iliac bone or combined with artificial bone was used to repair the bone defect in the second stage of treatment. The wound healing, bone defect healing, complications, and the number of successful treatments were recorded. The satisfaction of the skin flap efficacy and the function of the affected limb were evaluated. ResultsLocal necrosis of the skin flap occurred in 3 cases after operation, leading to delayed healing of the wound; the other 19 flaps survived successfully, leading to primary healing of the wound. The skin grafts survived completely and the incisions healed by first intention. All cases were followed up 13-28 months with an average of 20 months. The infection recurred in 2 cases within 12 months after operation, and the bone defects healed after treated by modified induced membrane technique. The bone defect healing rate was 100%; the bone healing time was 6-10 months, with an average of 8.9 months; the infection control rate and successful treatment rate were 90.9% (20/22) and 90.9% (20/22), respectively. At 12 months after operation, according to the satisfaction evaluation standard of skin flap efficacy formulated by ZHANG Hao et al., all were satisfied. According to Johner-Wruhs adjacent joint function method, the limb function recovery was excellent in 13 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 90.9%. ConclusionFor the treatment of chronic tibial osteomyelitis in patients with diabetes without vascular occlusion, the modified induced membrane technique and pedicled skin (myocutaneous) flap can repair bone and soft tissue defects, and control the infection at the same time, the short- and medium-term effectiveness are good.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of flap combined with induced membrane technique in treatment of post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis with soft tissue defect. Methods A clinical data of 33 patients with post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis with soft tissue defect who met the selection criteria between August 2015 and October 2018 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 21 males and 12 females. The age ranged from 19 to 70 years, with an average of 39 years. The osteomyelitis located in the upper 1/3 of tibia in 8 cases, in the middle 1/3 of tibia in 14 cases, and in the lower 1/3 of tibia in 11 cases. According to Cierny-Mader classification standard, 19 cases of osteomyelitis were type Ⅲ and 14 cases were type Ⅳ. The duration of osteomyelitis ranged from 2 months to 20 years (median, 3 months). In the first-stage operation, after radical debridement, the length of bone defect was 1.5-12.5 cm (mean, 5.0 cm) and the size of soft tissue defects ranged from 5 cm×4 cm to 15 cm×12 cm. Bone cement containing antibiotics was implanted into the bone defect and the personalized flap was used to repair the wound. After the wound healed at 6-8 weeks and the infection was controlled, bone grafting was performed to repair bone defects in the second-stage operation. Results The flaps survived completely after the first-stage operation in 29 cases. Partial necrosis of the flap occurred in 4 cases and healed after surgical dressing change. All the incisions healed by first intention after the second-stage operation. All patients were followed up 24-32 months (mean, 28 months). All the bone grafts healed after operation, and the radiographic healing time was 3-9 months (mean, 5 months). The clinical healing time was 4-14 months (mean, 8 months). There was no recurrence of osteomyelitis during follow-up. At last follow-up, according to Johner-Wruhs evaluation criteria, the limb function was excellent in 27 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 93.9%. Conclusion For the post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis with soft tissue defect, the flap combined with induced membrane technique is a reliable and effective method and can effectively restore the function of lower limbs with satisfactory effectiveness.