Table 1.
Complication | Number of cases (n = 80) | Management | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Flap crisis | 3 | Vascular exploration | Slight flap necrosis was healed after debridement, grafting, or dressing change |
Recurrence of deep infection | 2 | Removal of infected bone | Improvement |
Nonunion of bone defect | 14 | Autologous or allogeneic bone transplantation | Healing |
Refracture | 4 | External fixation for another 6 months | Bone union |
Severe nail tunnel reaction or mechanical axis deviation | 19 | Nail/needle replacement, mechanical axis adjustment | Improvement |
Joint stiffness (knee joint stiffness, foot drop, claw toe) | 13 | Decompression surgery, foot ring | Improvement |
Limb shortening (>3 cm) | 2 | None | None |
Soft tissue folding affecting bone transport contact | 5 | Soft tissue repair | Improvement |
Flap swelling | 8 | Flap repair | Improvement |
Poor wound healing | 10 | Dressing change | Improvement |
Note: the number of complications refers to the number of patients presenting with complications. One patient may successively or simultaneously have different complications, and one or more may be simultaneously treated during the surgical treatment. The functional score is obtained after these complications are treated.