Bone Defect Reconstruction

Bone defect reconstruction is a surgical procedure that provides new bone to a patient who finds themselves with a compromised piece of their skeletal structure. There are a multitude of reasons you may find yourself in need of extra bone tissue — luckily, this procedure is considered a safe and reliable way to bridge that gap.

Candidates

If you have recently endured trauma that has broken pieces of your bone, or if you have developed a disease that required part of your bone to be excised, then you are likely going to be a candidate for bone defect reconstruction.

Only patients with bone damage in specific areas can utilize this treatment, but we can help determine if you are an ideal or good candidate for this procedure during your consultation. Some preexisting conditions may prevent you from undergoing bone defect reconstruction, but our medical professionals will help find a solution for your concerns if that is the case.

Bone defect reconstruction is not a quick fix; it can take years for the treatment to be completed, so only patients prepared for a lengthy recovery process should consider this procedure. A big part of the recovery process is your ability to make adjustments to your apparatus, which means your results are dependent on your dedication to the program.

Benefits

Bone defect reconstruction can provide you with newly formed bone that is identical to the rest of the bones in your body. If you have lost bone in a specific area, you will not be able to function without some kind of substitution.

This procedure can provide you with a safe, sturdy and reliable solution so that you can get as close as possible to your life before your bone loss occurred. Many of our patients can retrieve the vast majority of their previous lifestyle, restoring their quality of life.

Preparation

Bone defect reconstruction is a lengthy procedure with a long recovery process. We are sure to be upfront about that with all of our patients so they know exactly what they are getting into. During your consultation, one of our extensively trained medical professionals will examine your condition and review your medical history and conditions to determine if this procedure is right for you.

If you are determined to be a candidate, you will be given many resources about what to anticipate before, during and after the reconstruction. You will likely be given strict surgical instructions to follow in the weeks leading up to your surgery — you should follow them as closely as possible since they give you a better chance at having a safe and successful procedure and recovery.

It is natural to have many questions about every part of the process. We are happy to take whatever time you need to feel comfortable about what is being done to your body. We recommend keeping a notebook or note on your phone for all of the questions you have.

That way, when you come in for a consult, you can make sure you don’t forget anything and are as educated as possible about the procedure. The more information you have, the more confident you will feel moving forward with bone defect reconstruction.

Procedure

There are four primary steps to bone defect reconstruction: anesthesia, excision, hardware, closing.

Anesthesia

Prior to your surgery, your surgeon will discuss your anesthesia options. In the vast majority of cases, patients will have the surgery performed with general anesthesia or IV sedation to maximize comfort and safety. You will know which option is better for you after your consultation.

Excision

In cases of trauma, fragments of bone need to be removed prior to beginning the procedure. It is also likely that your surgeon will excise additional pieces of bone to have clean surfaces to work with. If your bone defect results from disease, the problematic portion of bone will be completely excised.

Your surgeon will be conservative when it comes to removing bone tissue. The less that is removed, the shorter your recovery process will be, so your surgeon will put a lot of thought into exactly where the cuts need to be made.

Hardware

Once the bone is removed, a set of medical-grade hardware will be installed into the missing part of your bone. This hardware will be attached to screws that protrude from the skin. They will be fastened using screws.

Closing

Once the hardware is finished being implanted, your surgeon will precisely close and dress your wounds as you begin your recovery process. Extra attention will be given to ensure the bandages are fastened securely but still provide access to the adjusting mechanisms.

Reconstruction

After the bone reconstruction surgery is completed, there is a process to move the bone defect reconstruction along. Your surgeon will have made a second incision inside the bone, separating it from the rest of the skeleton.

The mechanisms on the hardware push up this now free-standing piece of bone. The body’s natural healing process will slowly fill the gap with new bone tissue at a rate of about 1 mm of growth per day, or roughly one centimeter per month. Since bone growth is a slow process, it is normal for the reconstruction process to take between six months and a year to complete.

Recovery

You should expect an average hospital day of around four days after a bone defect reconstruction, but the entire recovery process will take much longer than that. Your lengthening process will not begin until approximately seven days.

You can expect to experience minor to moderate pain, swelling, bruising and discomfort, but these can generally be managed with prescription or over-the-counter medications. Your physician will try to remain as conservative as possible when managing your pain and keeping you comfortable.

But once the bone growth is complete, it can take years for the bone to harden to the same level as your other bone tissue. This process is much quicker in children who are still going through the natural growing process.

Risks

As in true for every surgery, there are some potential risks that bone defect reconstruction presents, such as:

  • Injection
  • Motion loss
  • Poor bone healing
  • Nerve damage
  • Blood vessel injury
  • Blood clotting

These are the most problematic risks, but they are also the rarest. Feel free to bring up any concerns you have with our medical staff during your consultation or appointments.

Results

After your recovery and reconstruction are complete, you can expect to have a reliable solution to your bone loss that will potentially last for the rest of your life. Our patients are often able to resume chasing their passions and living a lifestyle that leaves them fulfilled.

Bone Defect Reconstruction in Baltimore

If you are interested in making an appointment to learn more about bone defect reconstruction, give our office a call at 443-737-4539. Alternatively, you can fill out our online contact form to have someone from our staff give you a call back as soon as possible. We are looking forward to helping you through this process.