[Induced membrane technique for the reconstruction of bone defects in upper limb. A prospective single center study of nine cases]

Abstract

Introduction: Bone defect in the upper limb remain infrequent with few reported in the literature. Their reconstruction raises the problem of bone union of non weight-bearing segments as well as the function of adjacent joints. We report a monocentric continuous series of nine patients treated with the induced membrane technique (Masquelet technique).

Patients and methods: Nine patients with a mean age of 39.2 years (17-69) presented with a bone defect of the humerus (six cases) or one of two bones (three cases). Diaphyseal (six cases) or metaphyseal (three cases) defects were secondary to trauma in three patients, to non-union in four others and following tumors for the other two. The mean defect was 5.1cm (2.5-9). Reconstruction was done by initial filling using a spacer in cement, followed by a cancellous bone graft within the induced membrane. BMP's growth factor was used in two cases.

Results: Bone union was achieved in eight out of nine cases with a follow-up of 23 months (8-52) after the first stage, and 17 months (6-49) following filling by the graft. One patient did not want the second stage done before one year. The failure was in a very non-compliant patient who had a bone substitute associated with aBMP. Two septic non-unions were cured. Shoulder and elbow functional outcomes were comparable to the controlateral side for humeral defects; pronosupination decreased by 17% for the cases of reconstruction of two bones.

Discussion: The technique of the induced membrane allows filling of a large bone defect, while avoiding vascularised bone autografts and their morbidity. It requires two procedures but can be used in emergency or after failure of other interventions. It is a reliable, and reproducible technique where the only limit is the cancellous bone stock. Following the series of Masquelet, Apard and Stafford in the lower limb, and the series of Flamans in the hand, this is the first report of reconstruction of defect in the upper limb using this technique.