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Comparison of 39 post-traumatic tibia bone transports performed with and without the use of an intramedullary rod: the long-term outcomes

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Abstract

Bone transport can be performed with an external fixator alone or with the monorail technique which entails the combination of a fixator and an intramedullary nail. The purpose of this study was to compare the complication rates and long-term outcomes of these methods. Two groups of patients, the external fixator (n = 21) and the monorail group (n = 18), were compared. The average follow-up period was 7.9 ± 5.6 years and the mean defect length 8.3 ± 3.1 cm. Healing was achieved in 19 (90%) and 13 (72%) of the fixator and monorail patients, respectively. Six patients underwent amputations because of persistent infections (two in the fixator and four in the monorail group). The rate of deformities was significantly higher in the fixator group (p = 0.049). No statistically significant difference was found when comparing categories of the SF-36 test or the ability to work or do sports. The main advantages of the monorail method are reduction of the external fixation time and the lower rate of deformities. However, the authors recommend segmental transport with external fixator in patients with chronic infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

There was no financial support for this study. None of the authors have received or will receive benefits for professional or personal use from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trauma Department, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    Emmanouil Liodakis, Mohamed Kenawey, Christian Krettek, Ulrich Wiebking & Stefan Hankemeier

Authors
  1. Emmanouil Liodakis
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  2. Mohamed Kenawey
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  3. Christian Krettek
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  4. Ulrich Wiebking
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  5. Stefan Hankemeier
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Correspondence to Emmanouil Liodakis.

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Each author certifies that he has no commercial associations (e.g. consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Ethical Board Review approval was obtained for this study (#644 – 05/01/2010).

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Liodakis, E., Kenawey, M., Krettek, C. et al. Comparison of 39 post-traumatic tibia bone transports performed with and without the use of an intramedullary rod: the long-term outcomes. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 35, 1397–1402 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-010-1094-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-010-1094-5

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