Bone union with an in situ spacer after the first stage of the induced membrane technique.

INTRODUCTION: We report a case of an infected bone defect in the tibia in which the treatment was stopped in the first stage of the induced membrane technique. The polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacer, retained in the bone defect, was encapsulated by the bone regeneration.

CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old male patient with a 7-cm infected bone defect in the tibia was submitted to the first stage of the induced membrane technique with debridement and implantation of a PMMA spacer with antibiotics. The patient refused the second stage of the procedure and achieved bone union with the spacer in situ. There was no recurrence of infection at the 6-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION: his is the first report of a case in which bone union was achieved with the spacer in situ after the first stage of the induced membrane technique. Keeping the spacer in the bone defect could be an option in some exceptional situations.