OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to explore the method and clinical effects of integration of Chinese herbs and operation for the treatment of post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis complication with bone-skin defect.

METHODSAmong 28 patients with post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis complicated with bone-skin defects, 18 patients were male and 10 females, ranging in age from 18 to 68 years, with an average of 32.5 years. All the patients were treated with transplantation of free iliac flaps to one-stage repair the bone-skin defects after infection controlled with Chinese herbs dressing. The curative effects were analyzed.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up and ranged from 8 to 56 months, with an average of 30 months. All of the flap survived, and the wounds got primary healing in 26 patients and secondary healing in 2 patients. All the grafted bone united in 2 to 14 months,with a mean time of 4.6 months. The osteomyelitis recurred in 2 patients and got healed by focal debridement.

CONCLUSIONChinese herbs application combined with operation for treating post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis complicated with hone-skin defects is effective to control infection, one-stage repair the tissue defects, which is worthy popularizing.