Case Report
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Feb 16, 2025; 13(5): 99963
Published online Feb 16, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i5.99963
Masquelet technique using an allogeneic cortical bone graft for a large bone defect: A case report
Hai-Yang Zong, Yu Liu, Xing Yin, Wei Zhou, Nan Li
Hai-Yang Zong, Department of Orthopedics, The People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force 920th Hospital, Kunming 650032, Yunnan Province, China
Yu Liu, Xing Yin, Wei Zhou, Nan Li, Department of Orthopedics, 96603 Military Hospital of PLA, Huaihua 418000, Hunan Province, China
Author contributions: Li N designed the study and performed the surgery; Zong HY assisted the operation and wrote the manuscript; Liu Y assisted designing and performed the operation; Yin X performed the follow-up and collect the data; Zhou W provided imaging support and analysis.
Informed consent statement: Patients provided written informed consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Nan Li, Doctor, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Orthopedics, 96603 Military Hospital of PLA, No. 65 Huaidong Road, Huaihua 418000, Hunan Province, China. 958695747@qq.com
Received: August 4, 2024
Revised: September 24, 2024
Accepted: November 4, 2024
Published online: February 16, 2025
Processing time: 107 Days and 2 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

The induced-membrane technique was initially described by Masquelet as an effective treatment for large bone defects, especially those caused by infection. Here, we report a case of chronic osteomyelitis of the radius associated with a 9 cm bone defect, which was filled with a large allogeneic cortical bone graft from a bone bank. Complete bony union was achieved after 14 months of follow-up. Previous studies have used autogenous bone as the primary bone source for the Masquelet technique; in our case, the exclusive use of allografts is as successful as the use of autologous bone grafts. With the advent of bone banks, it is possible to obtain an unlimited amount of allograft, and the Masquelet technique may be further improved based on this new way of bone grafting.

CASE SUMMARY

In this study, we reported a case of repair of a long bone defect in a 40-year-old male patient, which was characterized by the utilization of allograft cortical bone combined with the Masquelet technique for the treatment of the patient's long bone defect in the forearm. The patient's results of functional recovery of the forearm were surprising, which further deepens the scope of application of Masquelet technique and helps to strengthen the efficacy of Masquelet technique in the treatment of long bones indeed.

CONCLUSION

Allograft cortical bone combined with the Masquelet technique provides a new method of treatment to large bone defect.

Keywords: Osteomyelitis; Bone defect; Allogeneic cortical bone; Masquelet technique; Membrane induction technique; Case report

Core Tip: In this case, the creative use of allograft cortical bone combined with Masquelet technique was proved to be as successful as the use of an autologous bone graft. Meanwhile, the strength of a cortical allograft would allow early mobility and weight loading, which could provide better functional rehabilitation and earlier returning to normal life. Furthermore, complete resection of the infected bone was an effective way to cure chronic osteomyelitis.