Introduction: The risk for post-traumatic osteoarthritis (POA) following tibial plafond joint trauma has been reported to be as high as 70-75%. In the treatment of more severe joint pathologies, with incongruity and intra-articular defects, internal or external fixations techniques may be required. Presentation of case: We report the orthopedic management of a pilon fracture in a 30-year-old male with malunion and implant failure after initial mal-reduction of the fracture 9-months earlier. Tricortical iliac crest autologous bone grafting (TCG) was used in combination with internal fixation to restore distal tibial articular. The procedure resulted in a pain free ankle, sufficient range of motion for function and patient satisfaction. Discussion: Early surgical intervention and anatomical reduction with appropriate fixation are recommended for intra-articular tibial pilon fractures. Autogenous bone grafting is a reliable treatment option to augment structural stability, bone defects and bone-healing. Indications for bone grafting include delayed union or nonunion, malunion, arthrodesis, limb salvage, and reconstruction of bone voids or defects. The application of TCG in the management of a malreduced tibial plafond fracture has not been described before. Conclusion: We performed TCG with internal fixation in order to restore stability, congruency and alignment in a young patient in whom a biological restoration was feasible due to good bone quality. In suitable cases, TCG might provide an alternative to arthrodesis or arthroplasty.
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