Fragmentary cortical bone transportation can be used to fill large gaps in chronic cavitary osteomyelitis when standard techniques have failed. A low-energy corticotomy can create a loose fragment of cortex with periosteal attachments and surface blood supply still intact. This "vital" fragment can be gradually pulled across a defect within a bone to restore the integrity of the bone segment by distraction osteogenesis. The biologic principles for successful distraction osteogenesis by this innovative technique are illustrated in a 41-year-old man with chronic cavitary (150 cc) (four years) osteomyelitis refractory to multiple debridements, Papineau grafting, gentamicin beads, and tricalcium phosphate.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
James Aronson (1992) studied this question.