Treatment of infected non-unions and segmental defects of the tibia with staged microvascular muscle transplantation and bone-grafting.

Fourteen patients who had an infected non-union or segmental defect of the tibia were treated with débridement and microvascular transplantation of muscle. Successful free muscle transplantation and control of the infection were achieved in all patients. The prognosis was, in general, related to the severity of the underlying osseous problems, which were categorized into types A (a tibial defect and non-union without significant segmental loss), B (a tibial defect that is more than three centimeters long and an intact fibula), and C (a tibial defect that is more than three centimeters long, involving both the tibia and the fibula). All of the six type-A patients healed without needing bone-grafting. Of the four type-B patients, all of whom had subsequent bone-grafting, reactivation of the infection occurred in two, and both ultimately had a below-the-knee amputation; the third patient had a non-union between the fibular graft and the tibia; and the fourth patient was fully weight-bearing. All of the four type-C patients also required subsequent bone-grafting; all finally healed and were able to walk with a brace. The results in the present series indicate that, in patients who have an infected tibial defect or non-union, including those that are so severe that an amputation might be considered, this method of treatment is a valid option for salvage of the limb.