Masquelet Technique for the Tibia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Contemporary Outcomes

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review outcomes of the Masquelet “induced membrane” technique (MT) in treatment of tibial segmental bone loss and to assess the impact of defect size on union rate when using this procedure.

Data Sources: PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane, and SCOPUS were searched for English language studies from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2019.

Study Selection: Studies describing the MT procedure performed in tibiae of 5 or more adult patients were included. Pseudo-arthrosis, nonhuman, pediatric, technique, nontibial bone defect, and non-English studies were excluded, along with studies with less than 5 patients. Selection adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria.

Data Extraction: A total of 30 studies with 643 tibiae were included in this meta-analysis. Two reviewers systematically screened titles or abstracts, followed by full texts, to ensure quality, accuracy, and consensus among authors for inclusion or exclusion criteria of the studies. In case of disagreement, articles were read in full to assess their eligibility by the senior author. Study quality was assessed using previously reported criteria.

Data Synthesis: Meta-analysis was performed with random-effects models and meta-regression. A meta-analytic estimate of union rate independent of defect size when using the MT in the tibia was 84% (95% CI, 79%–88%). There was no statistically significant association between defect size and union rate (P = 0.11).

Conclusions: The MT is an effective method for the treatment of segmental bone loss in the tibia and can be successful even for large defects. Future work is needed to better understand the patient-specific factors most strongly associated with MT success and complications.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.