The Ilizarov technique in the treatment of tibial bone defects. Case reports and review of the literature.

Autogenous cancellous bone grafting has long been the hallmark of skeletal defect management. Unfortunately, the small number of donor sites in the human body constitutes an absolute limit on the quantity of fresh autogenous cancellous bone available for filling a segmental defect. In addition, the donor sites are always a source of discomfort and morbidity for the patients. Intercalary defects resulting from trauma, infection or tumour can be treated with transport of a segment of bone within the limb using the Ilizarov technique. We report on three cases of local bone transportation for intercalary tibial defects by the Ilizarov method.