Repairing the bone nonunion and bone defect with bridge mode transfer of natural periosteum flap

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of bridge mode transfer of natural periosteum flap for repair of bone nonunion and bone defect.Methods The 73 cases with bone nonunion, bone defect and bone reveal were treated with scar resection or wound liquidation to clear dead bone and perforate marrow antrum. To those patients associated with infection, the inner fixators were taken out and external fixators were used alternatively.Reverse periosteum flap with pedicel of low shank blood vessel of healthy side was applied and transplanted by bridge mode transfer to repair bone nonunion, bone and soft tissue defection.Results All periosteum flaps survived after operation.The fracture lines disappeared within 3-6 months in those bone nonunion cases, and 4-8 months in those bone defection cases. All bone fractures were concrescent.Conclusion To those cases that free tissue flaps failed to repair their bone nonunion and bone defection, the bridge mode transplant of natural periosteum flap would be an effective method. It has no need to anastomose vessels and is safe procedure with a high operation successful rate.