Managing Bone Defects : Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (original) (raw)

Review Article

Nauth, Aaron MD*; McKee, Michael D MD*; Einhorn, Thomas A MD†; Watson, J Tracy MD‡; Li, Ru MD, PhD*; Schemitsch, Emil H MD*

From the *Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedics, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; †Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA; and ‡Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO.

Accepted for publication May 17, 2011.

This study was presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, Baltimore, MD, 2010.

Reprints: Aaron Nauth, MD, St. Michael's Orthopaedic Associates, 55 Queen Street East, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5C 1R6 (e-mail: [email protected]).

Abstract

The management of bone defects caused by trauma and nonunion continues to represent a substantial clinical challenge in the management of orthopaedic trauma patients. A variety of treatment options have been described and reported in the literature. The relative rarity of these injuries means that high level, comparative evidence to guide their management is sparse. As such, treatment decisions must be based on knowledge of the available evidence, contemporary fracture management principles, and consideration of patient and surgeon factors. This article reviews the available evidence for the different treatment options available for the management of bone defects.