Open segmental tibial fractures are difficult injuries fraught with potential for complications. Delays or missteps in treatment and soft tissue coverage can lead to disastrous outcomes. This article and the accompanying video demonstrate an example of a timely, team-based approach for management of an open segmental tibial shaft fracture with complex osseous fixation and soft tissue reconstruction.

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Initially developed to reduce intramedullary pressures during long bone intramedullary nail placement, the reamer-irrigator-aspirator (RIA) can be used to harvest large volume autologous bone graft from the intramedullary canal of a long bone. This case-based surgical technique video demonstrates the appropriate techniques that should be applied while using the RIA to obtain autologous bone graft from the femur. A large volume of bone graft, generally between 30 and 90 cm, can be obtained using a single RIA procedure. The bone graft harvested from the intramedullary canal is excellent regarding its biochemical properties, with several studies reporting higher levels of growth factors and stem cells when compared with iliac crest bone graft. Surgical technique is key to maximize bone graft harvest, as well as to avoid complications including iatrogenic fracture, intraarticular penetration, and fragmentation of either the reamer head from the drive shaft or the guide wire. Pearls and pitfalls regarding sizing of the reamer head, determination of starting point, guide wire placement, reamer advancement, and diligent use of fluoroscopic imaging are highlighted during this video. Finally, outcomes regarding healing of long bone defects when using RIA-derived autologous bone graft and reduction in postoperative pain at the graft donor site are briefly reviewed.

Summary: There are little data published regarding percutaneous fixation of calcaneal tuberosity avulsion fractures, but tongue-type calcaneal fracture literature can be extrapolated to these injuries because they can be considered the extra-articular form of a tongue-type calcaneus fracture. Both injuries involve similar considerations regarding skin compromise and need for urgent management with similar percutaneous techniques to minimize further soft-tissue injury. Percutaneous fixation of tongue-type calcaneus fractures was first reported by Weshues and Gissane in their description of the Essex Lopresti maneuver as an alternative to open approaches to minimize the risk of soft-tissue complications and flap necrosis and provide a means of improving reductions in smokers and diabetics who may not otherwise be good operative candidates. Video available at: http://links.lww.com/JOT/A808