Bone Transport with the Taylor Spatial Frame Technique: A Case Series.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Limb reconstruction
• Traumatology

Background:

• Bone defects from infected non-unions or tumors necessitate reconstructive techniques.
• Bone transport is a viable method for addressing significant bone loss.
• The Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) offers a versatile solution for bone transport and deformity correction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) in bone transport for patients with bone defects.
• To assess the outcomes, including deformity correction and complications, associated with TSF-assisted bone transport.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case series of ten patients undergoing bone transport with the TSF.
• Data collected included age, affected bone, etiology of defect, duration of external fixation, bone transport distance, distraction index (DI), alignment, leg length discrepancy, and complications.

Main Results:

• Average bone transport distance was 76.0 mm over a mean fixation period of 367 days (DI: 20.8 days/cm).
• Minor deformities and translations were noted at the docking site (frontal and lateral views).
• Mean leg length discrepancy was 10.9 mm; 40.6% mechanical axis deviation. Bone union was achieved in all cases, with no infection recurrence or tumor progression.

Conclusions:

• The TSF is effective for bone transport, enabling deformity correction and achieving good results.
• Additional procedures may be necessary for consolidation or docking site union, a common challenge in bone transport.
• The TSF provides a valuable tool for complex limb reconstruction cases.