Current Concepts in the Management of Thromboangiitis Obliterans (TAO) Using Distraction Osteogenesis.

Buerger's disease or thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is a disease of unknown aetiology. It involves progressive segmental inflammation of small- and medium-sized blood vessels of the limbs which leads to the manifestations of chronic vascular ischemia of peripheral vessels. It is a limb-threatening condition and has a strong association with chronic smoking. The management of TAO has always remained controversial with the number of medical and surgical treatments available. However, so far, none of them has proved to be consistent and promising with the outcomes. The main principle of the management of TAO is to restore the vascular supply of the affected limb to elude pernicious complications like amputation. Since 1989, Ilizarov's method of bone transport has been widely used with satisfactory outcomes to treat bone defects and for limb reconstruction. This principle of distraction osteogenesis not only promotes bone formation but also the adjoining soft-tissue growth. This advantage has been popularized over decades for its significant implication in the neovascularization of ischemic limb in the management of TAO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]