Plate-assisted bone segment transport: Novel application on distal tibia defect after tumour resection. A case report

Reconstruction of a large bone defect of the distal tibia after limb salvage surgery is difficult. The options include custom-made ankle endoprosthetic replacement, arthrodesis, and biological or metallic intercalary reconstructions. This report introduces a technique that provides the patient with a long-lasting biological reconstruction while preserving the native ankle.

We present the case of a 47-year-old man with osteosarcoma of the distal tibia. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, wide excision was performed while preserving the ankle joint. Bone reconstruction by Plate-assisted bone segment transport (PABST) was performed with a non-invasive growing intramedullary nail. At 34 months of follow-up, there was solid union and the Musculoskeletal Tumour Society Score was 26/30.

This is the first report of PABST after distal tibia tumour resection. It shows that this is a viable and safe method of reconstruction. Despite the use of adjuvant chemotherapy, regenerate was formed and union was achieved.

PABST is a useful tool in the armamentarium to tackle difficult large bone defects.