Infectious bone defect is bone defect with infection or as a result of treatment of bone infection. It requires surgical intervention, and the treatment processes are complex and long, which include bone infection control,bone defect repair and even complex soft tissue reconstructions in some cases. Failure to achieve the goals in any step may lead to the failure of the overall treatment. Therefore, infectious bone defect has been a worldwide challenge in the field of orthopedics. Conventionally, sequestrectomy, bone grafting, bone transport, and systemic/local antibiotic treatment are standard therapies. Radical debridement remains one of the cornerstones for the management of bone infection. However, the scale of debridement and the timing and method of bone defect reconstruction remain controversial. With the clinical application of induced membrane technique, effective infection control and rapid bone reconstruction have been achieved in the management of infectious bone defect. The induced membrane technique has attracted more interests and attention, but the lack of understanding the basic principles of infection control and technical details may hamper the clinical outcomes of induced membrane technique and complications can possibly occur. Therefore, the Chinese Orthopedic Association organized domestic orthopedic experts to formulate An evidence-based clinical guideline for the treatment of infectious bone defect with induced membrane technique ( version 2023) according to the evidence-based method and put forward recommendations on infectious bone defect from the aspects of precise diagnosis, preoperative evaluation, operation procedure, postoperative management and rehabilitation, so as to provide useful references for the treatment of infectious bone defect with induced membrane technique.

Objective:To explore the effects of tibial cortex transverse transport for long-term chronic wounds after serious lower limb trauma.Methods:From January 2016 to July 2021, 11 patients with long-term chronic wounds after lower limb trauma were treated at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 920 Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA. They were 7 males and 4 females, aged from 19 to 57 years (average, 32.3 years). There were 7 lesions of the popliteal artery and 4 ones of the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. The wound was located at the distal leg in 5 cases and at the foot and ankle in 6 ones. The wound size ranged from 3.2 cm × 2.8 cm to 9.5 cm × 7.3 cm. An external fixator for transverse transport was installed after the cortical bone fenestration was performed on the medial tibia more than 10 cm away from the wound surface, with a fenestration area of 5.0 cm × 1.8 cm. The wound was limitedly debrided, irrigated thoroughly and bandaged. Transverse transport began on the postoperative day 7, with the wounds opened for care and dressing change. The transverse transport lasted 25 days and the external fixators were dismantled 2 months after surgery. The healing of the wounds and incisions for transverse transport was observed.Results:The 11 patients were followed up for 3 to 20 months (average, 5.6 months). The wounds healed after 35 to 277 days. By the last follow-up, all the wounds healed without recurrence. Incision infection occurred in 2 patients, whose transverse transport was continued and wounds healed after local debridement; another patient suffered from poor incision healing, which responded gradually to decreased speed of transverse transport.Conclusion:Tibial cortex transverse transport can significantly improve the local blood supply and promote granulation and healing of long-term chronic wounds after serious trauma at the lower leg, foot and ankle.

Objective:To investigate the short-term efficacy of anatomical calcaneal external fixator in the treatment of calcaneal fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 9 patients with calcaneal fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, 920 Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force between September 2019 and March 2020. There were 7 males and 2 females, aged from 23 to 66 years (mean, 41.3 years). The injury was caused by a fall from a height in 6 cases and a traffic accident in 3 cases. By the Sanders classification, there were 2 cases of type ⅡB, 2 cases of type ⅢAC, 3 type Ⅲ AB, one of type Ⅲ BC and one type Ⅳ. By the AO grading for closed soft tissue injury in the 8 closed fractures, there were 5 cases of grade Ⅰ and 3 cases of grade Ⅱ. The one open fracture was type ⅢB by the Gustilo-Anderson classification and treated with skin flap repair after debridement. All the 9 patients were treated with an anatomic calcaneal external fixator during stage-one or stage-two surgery (8 patients in stage-one and one in stage-two). The fracture union time for the patients was recorded; the ankle and hindfoot score of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and the protocol of Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) were used at the last follow-up to assess the short-term efficacy.Results:Postoperative follow-up for the 9 patients ranged from 6 to 18 months (mean, 9.8 months). The duration of fracture union in the 9 patients ranged from 2 to 4 months (mean 2.8 months). The AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score at last follow-up ranged from 79 to 93 points (mean, 84.7 points) for the male patients (6 excellent and one good), and from 82 to 91 points (mean, 86.5 points) for the female patients (one excellent and one good). According to the ASAMI protocol at last follow-up, the short-term efficacy was rated as excellent in 6 cases, as good in 2 cases and as fair in one. The patients with closed fracture could get out of bed for rehabilitation on day 3 after surgery. None of the patients experienced such complications as pin tract infection and osteomyelitis during follow-up.Conclusion:The anatomic external calcaneal fixator demonstrates fine short-term efficacy in the treatment of calcaneal fractures, due to its advantages like anatomical configuration, a limited number of implants, and a possibility of partial weight-bearing for exercises on the third postoperative day.

Objective:To study the X-ray manifestations of distraction osteogenesis in tibial bone transfer, put for-ward the classification and formulate the standard treatment protocols.Methods:Data of 42 cases among 321 cases with dysplasia of distraction osteogenesis who had tibial bone transfer from January 2012 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 27 males and 15 females aged from 4-65 years old, with an average of 33.1 years. The dysplasia sites were 26 cases of proximal tibia, 3 cases of tibial shaft and 13 cases of distal tibia. The length of tibial defect ranged from 3.5 cm to 21.7 cm, with an average of 6.7 cm. The main management protocol included systemic assessment, local assessment, fixator adjusting stimulation and surgical intervention. The fixator adjusting stimulation included transport slowing, transport stopping, transport backing, and accordion techniques. The main surgical intervention was second site osteotomy and bone grafting. According to the X-films, the dysplasia of the tibia transport can be divided into four types: longitudinal defect; transverse defect; insect erosion defect; full-length defect. External fixation index (EFI) was used to evaluate the healing and mineralization of distraction osteogenesis. The limb function was evaluated by Paley method.Results:All 42 cases were followed up for 33.71 ± 11.7 months (range, 24-72 months). The types of dysplasia were as follows: 25 cases (59.5%) of longitudinal defects, 8 cases (19.0%) of transverse defect, 2 cases (4.8%) of insect erosion defect, and 7 cases (16.7%) of full-length defects. After the treatment, except for 2 cases of amputation, all the dysplasia healed and the patients recovered limb walking. External fixation index of 40 cases was 1.55-2.83 months/cm, with an average of 1.76 months/cm. According to Paley evaluation method, 27 cases were excellent, 10 cases good, 1 case fair, and 2 cases poor, thus the excellent and good rate was 92.5% (37/40). The complications after treatment included: nail tract infection (3 cases), axial displacement of transferred segment (4 cases), clubfoot (2 cases), and amputation (2 cases). The total incidence of complications was 26.2% (11/42), which was symptomatically treated.Conclusion:The X-film manifestations of dysplasia at the osteotomy site in tibial bone transport can be divided into four types: longitudinal defect, transverse defect, insect erosion defect, and full-length defect. The different types were treated by general and local evaluation, frame adjustment stimulation and surgical intervention. The remedial results of the dysplasia were excellent.

Objective:To investigate the effect of free anterolateral thigh perforator flap in repair of forefoot injuries combined with multiple tissue defect.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on 26 patients who suffered from forefoot injuries combined with multiple tissue defect admitted to 920th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from January 2015 to December 2019. There were 21 males and 5 females, aged 15-61 years [(31.6±12.5)years]. The combined injuries were fracture in 10 patients, arsometatarsal joint dislocation in 3, bone defect in 9, tendon injury in 5, and ligament injury in 3. Management of multiple tissue defect of the forefeet: soft-tissue defect of the forefeet was resurfaced with free anterolateral thigh perforator flaps with the dimension of 6.0 cm×3.5 cm to 26.5 cm×10.0 cm; fracture was fixed by Kirschner wires; joint dislocation was treated by open reduction and Kirschner wires fixations; bone defect was reconstructed either by one-stage bone graft or by use of membrane-induced technique and secondary bone graft, according to the wound conditions; tendon injury of extensor digitorum longus was repaired by direct tendon suture or by tendon transfer; tarsometatarsal ligament injury was primarily sutured. The flap survival rate was observed within 2 weeks after operation. The fracture healing, bone-defect repair, foot appearance, and donor-site healing were detected at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year post-operatively and at the last follow-up. The postoperative complications were recorded. The foot function was assessed using American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score before operation and at the final follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 6-36 months [(20.5±4.6)months]. All flaps survived uneventfully. The fracture healing and bone defect repair were acquired. The flap showed good texture, including primary flap thinning in 11 patients and secondarily thinning in 15 patients at 3-6 months postoperatively. The donor sites showed good healing, leaving only a linear scar. The flap venous crisis developed in 1 patient and survived after emergency vascular exploring. Local infection of flap occurred in 3 patients and was cured after further debridement and the use of sensitive antibiotics. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 54-94 points [(76.6±10.4)points] at the last follow-up, compared to preoperative 11-51 points [(27.2±11.3)points] ( P<0.01). The results were excellent in 5 patients, good in 11, and fair in 10, with the excellent and good rate of 62%. Conclusions:For forefoot injuries combined with multiple tissue defect, anterolateral thigh perforator flap transplantation with additional techniques to treat fractures, bone defect, tendon and ligament injuries can achieve satisfactory results in aesthetic appearance of the flap and donor site and foot function recovery.

Objective:To explore the effect of tension-reducing distraction of external fixators for limb wound closure.Methods:A retrospective case series study was made on data of 21 patients with refractory limb wounds admitted to 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA from January 2016 to July 2019. There were 15 males and 6 females，aged 11 to 56 years ［ （37.8 ± 11.2）years］. The lower-limb wounds were found in 15 patients and the upper-limb wound in 6 patients. The area of wound defect ranged from 1.2 cm × 1.0 cm to 22.0 cm × 17.1 cm. After debridement of the limb wound，the tension-reducing distraction of Ilizarov external fixators was used according to the shape and location of the wound. Distraction was applied at a rate of 1 mm/d starting at postoperative day 1 and the direction of distraction was adjusted according to the angle of skin closure of the trauma. The wound reduction distraction time and wound healing time were recorded. The wound healing score was used to evaluate wound healing at postoperative 5 days and 30 days. Complications were recorded according to the Paley classification. The wound survival curve was plotted to observe the time of wound tension reduction and traction and wound healing. The final wound healing was detected as well.Results:All patients were followed up for 3 to 9 months ［（4.5 ± 1.7）months］. The wounds were significantly reduced after reduction and distraction，with the reduction time of 6-23 days ［（7.8 ± 2.3）days］ and the wound healing time of 15-47 days ［（23.0 ± 3.3）days］. The wound healing score was （3.2 ± 0.9）points at postoperative 5 days and （0.7 ± 0.2）points at postoperative 30 days （ P < 0.05）. There were 15 problems，0 disorder，and 0 sequelae according to the Paley classification of complications. The wound survival curve showed the median time of reduction and distraction and wound healing was 16 days and 34 days，respectively. All patients showed wound healing without recurrence，of which 10 were healed directly，8 by implants and 3 by sutures. Conclusion:For patients with limb wounds difficult to be treated by flap coverage，the tension-reducing distraction of external fixators can effectively close the wound，fasten wound healing，shorten treatment period，and has fewer complications and a low recurrence rate.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of low-set perforating branch propeller flap of fibular artery for repairing calcaneal soft tissue defects.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on 28 patients with calcaneal soft tissue defects admitted to 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA from January 2013 to December 2019. There were 19 males and 9 females，aged 13-69 years［（33.8±13.7）years］. The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 5 cm×2 cm to 18 cm×12 cm，and the size of flaps ranged from 12 cm×4 cm to 24 cm×10 cm. The soft tissue defects were repaired with the low-set fibular artery perforator propeller flap after emergency debridement or flap transplantation at the second stage after debridement according to the wound surface conditions. The survival of the flap，wound healing at the recipient and donor sites and complications were recorded. The function of the affected ankle was assessed according to American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society（AOFAS）ankle-hindfoot score before operation and at the final follow-up. The degree of satisfaction of flap appearance was assessed by Thankappan flap appearance satisfaction score at the final follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 2-40 months［（17.4±5.9）months］. All flaps survived and wounds at both donor and recipient sites were healed well，with satisfactory color and texture of the flaps，without thinning operation performed. Three patients experienced numbness on both sides of the incision at donor sites within 1 week after operation and returned to normal on their own about 2 months after operation，with all flaps restoring partial light pain sensation 1 year after operation. No complications occurred such as blood flow disorder of the affected limb or compartment syndrome. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 56-95 points［（82.3±15.2）points］at the final follow-up，significantly higher than the preoperative score of 17-68 points［（35.7±13.4）points］（ P<0.01）. The results were excellent in 21 patients，good in 5 and fair in 2，with excellent and good rate of 93%.The appearance satisfaction score was 4-10 points［（7.6±2.9）points］according to Thankappan flap appearance satisfaction score. The results were excellent in 6 patients，good in 15 and fair in 7，with the excellent and good rate of 75%. Conclusions:The low-set perforating branch propeller flap of fibular artery for reconstruction of calcaneal soft tissue defects has advantages of reliable blood supply and high survival rate of the flap as well as good restoration of the appearance and function of the affected limb.

Objective: To evaluate the treatment results of Ilizarov microcirculation reconstruction technique for chronic wounds in the post-traumatic ischemia limbs. Methods: Between January 2016 and July 2019, 7 cases of chronic wounds in the post-traumatic ischemia limbs were treated. There were 5 males and 2 females, with an average age of 42.4 years (range, 29-66 years). The duration of the wound ranged from 1 month to 2 years (mean, 7.7 months). The wounds located in the leg (3 cases) or in the foot and ankle (4 cases). The wound sizes ranged from 4.0 cm×2.2 cm to 12.0 cm×7.1 cm. There were 1 case of tibial varus, 3 cases of equinovarus, 1 case of scleroderma, and 2 cases of Volkmann's ischemic contracture. After debridement, external fixators were used for tibial transverse transport, or correction of tibial varus and correction of equinovarus. Results: All patients were followed up 8-20 months, with an average of 13 months. The infection of wound surface was all controlled in 7 cases and the granulation tissue grew well; the wound surface healed directly in 5 cases and healed after skin grafting in 2 cases, and the wound healing time was 1-3 months (mean, 1.7 months). During the follow-up, there was no recurrence of the wound. Six cases of limb deformity were corrected. Conclusion: For the chronic wounds in the post-traumatic ischemia limbs, Ilizarov microcirculation reconstruction technique can effectively improve local circulation and facilitate the fresh granule growth and wound healing.

Objective:To compare the clinical effects of 4 kinds of neurocutaneous perforator flap with vascular anastomosis for repair of hand and foot wounds.Methods:From January, 2005 to September, 2019, 112 patients with hand and foot wounds were treated, there were 78 cases of fingers, 11 cases of first web, 5 cases of palm, 6 cases of hand and 12 cases of foot. The defect area was 2.0 cm×1.5 cm-21.0 cm×12.0 cm. All 112 cases were repaired by neurocutaneous perforator flaps anastomosed with blood vessels. Types of flap were applied: Radial collateral artery perforator flap (with posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm) in 30 cases. The flap area was 5.0 cm×2.0 cm-13.0 cm×6.0 cm. Superficial peroneal artery flap (without superficial peroneal nerve) anastomosed with blood vessels in 15 cases. The flap area was 2.5 cm×2.0 cm-9.0 cm×6.0 cm. Lateral superficial sural artery perforator flap (with superior sural cutaneous nerve) in 26 cases. The flap area was 2.5 cm×1.8 cm-7.0 cm×5.0 cm. Peroneal artery perforator flap (with middle and lower sural nerve) in 41 cases. The flap was harvested with area of 2.5 cm×1.8 cm-23.0 cm ×14.0 cm to repair the wounds of feet, back of hands, first web, palm and fingers. CTA images were observed in 40 clinical patients, and the occurrence rate of radial collateral artery, superficial peroneal artery, superficial lateral sural artery, and peroneal artery were measured. Anastomosis cutaneous nerve in 97 cases, and no cutaneous nerve anastomosis 15 cases (superficial peroneal artery flap).Results:The peroneal artery perforator flap (41 cases) and radial collateral artery perforator flap (30 cases) were harvested. The incidence of perforator vessels was both 100%, and incidence of superficial sural artery was 80.8% (21/26 cases). In the other 19.2% (5/26 cases), the superficial medial sural artery was replaced by too thin vessels. The utilization rate of superficial peroneal artery was 60.0% (9/15 cases), the other 40.0% (6/15 cases) were converted to peroneal artery perforator flap. All flaps survived except 1 case of superficial perforator flap of lateral sural artery, which underwent necrosis at the distal end and healed after dressing change. One hundred and one cases were followed-up, including 90 cases for repairing soft tissue defects in hands and 11 cases in feet. The followed-up time ranged from 12 to 120 months, with an average of 36.6 months. There were 40 cases with excellent function, 45 cases with good function and 5 cases with fair function. There were 78 cases of cutaneous nerve anastomosis of hand flap, and the sensory function was above S 3 level. There were 12 cases without anastomosis of cutaneous nerve of hand flap, and the sensory function reached S 3 level in 3 cases and S 2 level in 9 cases. In 11 cases, the cutaneous nerve was anastomosed to repair the soft tissue defect of the foot, and the sensory function was above S 3 level. The radial collateral artery perforator flaps were relatively bulky and needed to be treated by fat removal. The other 3 kinds of three flaps were not bulky. Conclusion:The perforating vessels of peroneal artery and radial accessory artery have larger diameter and easy to harvest. The superficial peroneal artery and the lateral superficial sural artery are relatively small in caliber, especially the superficial peroneal artery. Among the 4 kinds of cutaneous nerve nutrient vascular flaps, the radial accessory artery perforator flap was the most bloated. Sensory nerve innervation flaps were found in the upper segment of lateral sural cutaneous nerve, posterior forearm cutaneous nerve and middle and lower segment of sural nerve. The superficial peroneal artery perforator flap was accompanied by superficial peroneal nerve that did not send cutaneous branches into the flap. The upper segment of superficial peroneal nerve was only a passing nerve.

Objective To explore the clinical application of our self-designed controllable and portable double-pin traction device on calf in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures.Methods Our controllable and portable double-pin traction device on calf was designed to fulfill the purpose of traction and address current problems in traction for tibiofibular fractures.This device is composed of double-hole connectors,nuts of various specifications,traction pin sleeves,2 transfixion pins and 2 threaded rods for traction.The transfixion pins are fixed at conventional traction positions.The threaded rods for traction are paralleled to the long axis of lower limb and located on both sides of the calf.Bone ends can be distracted by adjusting the nut of M8 width and the speed of pulling can be controlled.This device can be used not only for rapid traction during surgery but also for slow traction preoperatively.It was applied in the 30 patients with tibiofibular fracture who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,920th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force from January to December 2017.Their radiographs were taken before traction and at 3 and 6 days after traction to observe the changes in overlapped fracture ends and fracture gap.The lengths of distraction were measured.After limited open reduction,fracture gaps and tensions of surrounding soft-tissues were observed.Results Their radiographs before and after traction demonstrated that their overlapped and displaced fracture ends were distracted more or less.The length of distraction ranged from 7.2 mm to 45.8 mm (mean,23.1 mm);it was ＜ 15 mm in 6 cases,between 15 mm and 30 mm in 18,between 31 mm and 45 mm in 5,and ＞ 45 mm in one.Their radiographs showed that regular traction for 6 days was more obvious than that for 3 days.The limited open reduction revealed that the gap between fracture ends was expanded,the soft-tissue tension effectively relaxed,the overlapping of fracture ends diminished,and the dissection of surrounding soft-tissue and periosteum decreased,leading to less difficulty in reduction.In fractures near the joint or involving the articular surface,the joint space was expanded.The 30 patients were followed up for one to 16 months (mean,5.8 months).No such complications as pin site infection,traction fracture or osteomyelitis was observed.Conclusion Our self-designed controllable and portable double-pin traction device on calf is effective and advantageous,because it is simple,easy,light in weight,and controllable for traction speed.