Traumatic femoral bone defect reconstruction with an autoclaved autologous femoral segment. A 10-year follow-up.

Traumatic bone defects in the diaphyso-metaphyseal distal part of the femur are difficult to treat. Only two publications have described traumatic extrusion of a femoral shaft fragment and its successful replacement after autoclave sterilisation. We report the case of a 17-year-old patient who had traumatic extrusion of an 11- cm segment of his distal femur. The bone segment was retrieved on the road, and was reimplanted in its anatomical position after cleansing and autoclaving. At ten years follow-up, there is complete incorporation with full functional recovery. The preserved periosteum seems to have played a major part in this successful outcome.