Induced Membrane Technique for the Management of Segmental Femoral Defects: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Individual Participant Data

Several modifications of the induced membrane technique (IMT) have been reported, but there is no consensus regarding their results and prognosis. Moreover, most studies have focused on tibial defects; no meta‐analysis of the treatment of femoral defects using the IMT has been reported. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to identify the potential risk factors of post‐procedural complications following the treatment of segmental femoral defects using the IMT. A comprehensive search was performed on the Cochrane Library, EBSCO, EMBASE, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, using the keywords “femur,” “Masquelet technique,” and “induced membrane technique.” Original articles composed in English, having accessible individual patient data, and reporting more than two cases of bony defect or nonunion of femur or more than five cases of any body part were included. Post‐procedural bone graft infections, final union status, and union time after second‐stage operation were analyzed. Fourteen reports, including 90 patients, were used in this study. External fixation in second‐stage surgery had an odds ratio of 9.267 for post‐procedural bone graft infection (p = 0.047). The odds ratio of post‐procedural bone graft infection and age >65 years for final non‐union status was 51.05 (p = 0.003) and 9.18 (p = 0.042). Shorter union time was related to impregnated antibiotics in the spacer (p = 0.005), transplanting all‐autologous grafts (p = 0.042), and the application of intramedullary nails as the second‐stage fixation method (p = 0.050). The IMT appears to be reasonable and reproducible for femoral segmental bone defects. Several preoperative and surgical factors may affect post‐procedural complications and union time. The IMT appears to be a reliable and reproducible solution for femoral segmental bone defects. However, several factors such as the method of final fixation, existence of infection, application of antibiotic‐loaded cement spacer, and the source of bone grafting may affect post‐procedural complications and union time.