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.

Reliability of the radiographic union scale in tibial fractures (RUST).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the inter- and intra observer reproducibility of the radiographic score of consolidation of the tibia shaft fractures.

Methods: Fifty-one sets of radiographs in anteroposterior (AP) and profile (P) of the tibial shaft treated with intramedullary nail were obtained. The analysis of X-rays was performed in two stages, with a 21-day interval between assessments by a group of nine evaluators.