Bone Transport Treatment of Osteomyelitis Due to Thermal Osteonecrosis After IM Nailing of Tibial Stress Fracture Nonunion

We present a case of a female athlete who sustained a nonunion of a tibial stress fracture and was treated with intramedullary nailing (IMN). The patient developed osteomyelitis likely secondary to a thermal osteonecrosis during the index procedure and required resection of the necrotic tibia and bone transport using the Ilizarov technique.The authors believe that all actions should be taken to avoid thermal osteonecrosis during reaming for tibial IMN, especially in patients with a small medullary canal. We believe that bone transport with the Ilizarov technique is an effective treatment method for patients who develop tibial osteomyelitis after treatment of tibial shaft fractures.