Deficit (14 cm) of the tibia solved by a double sliding graft using the Ilizarov apparatus.

Abstract

A 14 cm deficit of the tibia with a soft tissue deficit was resolved using the apparatus of Ilizarov. The apparatus was applied using a double corticotomy of the proximal and distal remainder of the tibia. The fragments were moved until they met each other in the central part of the deficit. Afterwards, a part of the apparatus was changed (the constructions for sliding grafts were replaced with two new circles). This enabled the compression between the "kissed" fragments, and the space between those fragments and distal and proximal tibial adjacent to the remaining joints was filled by the newly formed bone formation.