The Role of Type H Vessel Formation in Induced Membrane of Patients With Critical Size Bone Defect

Masquelet technique, also called an induced membrane technique (IMT), was first introduced to treat critical size bone defect up to 25 cm in 1986 by Pr. Alain Charles Masquelet et al. IMT is a two-stage surgical operation that recently provides a more popular option for the treatment of critical size bone defect as well as fracture nonunion. Basically, first stage of IMT comprises the implantation of a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement spacer loaded with antibiotics into defect site. During 6 to 8 weeks, this spacer induces the formation and maturation of a thin layer called induced membrane surrounding it via a foreign body immune response. In stage II, the spacer is carefully removed while keeping induced membrane at the fracture site, autologous bone graft is then performed to provoke bone healing.

Bone graft is only performed in this group to provoke bone healing, as same as demonstrated in the stage II of IMT.