Regeneration of the proximal tibial epiphysis during callus distraction for atrophic nonunion after infantile osteomyelitis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report a case with osteomyelitis of the proximal tibia as an infant leading to an atrophic nonunion with a segmental bone defect and limb shortening. The patient was treated by callus distraction with external Wxator three times, and regeneration of the proximal tibia epiphysis appeared during the management. The activation of the resting mesenchymal stem cells might contribute to the regeneration of the epiphysis and osteogenesis in the sites of atrophic nonunion.