Complications associated with bone transport: a literature review of nonunion at the docking site

Liang Bin; Zhang Kai

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.0148

Abstract：BACKGROUND: Bone transport is a powerful tool described by Ilizarov, which is an excellent biological method for the correction of large bone defects. But complications specifically associated with bone transport including delayed union or nonunion at the docking site occur frequently. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the research status and clinical treatments of the delayed union or nonunion at the docking site in bone transport using Ilizarov method. METHODS: A computer-based search of CNKI and PubMed databases was performed for the articles related to the docking site, osteotomy, bone defects and bone transport with the keywords of "docking site, bone transport, bone defects, Ilizarov" in English and Chinese, respectively. Finally, 44 eligible articles were included to review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Docking sites are the result of a classic bone transport technique for dealing with bone loss. Union may prove to be the rate-limiting step of this surgical procedure. About the delayed union or nonunion at the docking site, different clinicians have different foci, some clinicians focus on prevention, some focus on the biological treatment, and some focus on surgical intervention. The emergence of decortications and debridement under arthroscopy provides a new treatment strategy for the delayed union or nonunion at the docking site. How to promote the healing at the docking site and shorten treatment course still needs a further investigation.