title: Bone Transport for Reconstruction in Benign Bone Tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the results of using the Ilizarov apparatus to transport bones in the treatment of benign bone tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven patients (six males and one female) with benign bone tumors were treated by bone transport with an Ilizarov apparatus at our institution. Their mean age at surgery was 14.4 years (range, 4.8 to 36.9 years). The histological diagnoses were osteofibrous dysplasia (4), giant-cell tumor (1), intraosseous cavernous hemangioma (1), and aneurysmal bone cyst (1). Three radiological indices were used for evaluating the results: an external fixation index, a distraction index, and a maturation index. The bone and functional results were evaluated according to the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients had bone union at the reconstructed site, one patient had a local recurrence, and the other had a nonunion at the docking site. The mean length of distraction was 7.3 cm (range, 5.1 to 12.1 cm). The mean external fixation index was 26.0 day/cm (range, 19.8 to 32.5 day/cm), the distraction index was 9.6 day/cm (range, 6.8 to 12.0 day/cm), and the maturation index was 14.9 day/cm (range, 8.0 to 22.5 day/cm). Ultimately, the bone and the functional results were rated excellent in six cases and good in one case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bone transport using the Ilizarov apparatus is a good treatment option in patients with bone defects after the resection of an active or aggressive benign bone tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Seon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Taek
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong Seub
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Ram
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Na
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bone lengthening; Bone neoplasms; Ilizarov technique