Unique Case of Accelerated Bone Growth Precipitating a One-Stage Masquelet: A Case Report

The masquelet technique is a two-stage procedure used by orthopedic surgeons to treat large segmental bone defects secondary to infection, trauma, and tumor resection. This technique characteristically requires the placement of a temporary cement spacer and subsequent bone grafting for complete reconstruction. We describe a unique case of segmental bone loss reconstruction in which a patient successfully achieved fracture union after the first step of the masquelet technique without bone grafting.

This is a case of a 21-year-old male who presented with an open femur fracture with 10 cm of segmental bone loss after a motorcycle collision. An antibiotic cement spacer was inserted according to the first stage of the masquelet technique. Due to considerable callus formation around the spacer, normal alignment, and pain-free ambulation at follow-up, further surgical intervention was not pursued, and the poly-methyl-methacrylate spacer was left in place. The fracture healed without infection, and the patient remained weight-bearing without pain.

This case identifies a unique instance of successful fracture union of a 10 cm segmental bone defect despite the completion of only the first step in the masquelet procedure. While the masquelet technique is believed to be a mandatory two-step procedure, this unique case of rapid bone growth and fracture union warrants further research on the possibilities of masquelet-induced regeneration without bone grafting.