OBJECTIVE To explore the feasibility of the treatment of infected bone defect with one stage open cancellous bone grafting and summarize the key factors improving the curative effects. METHODS Twelve cases of infected bone defects were reviewed, which involved 8 male and 4 female with an average age of 42 years (range, 22 to 68 years). The study consisted of 7 cases of calcaneal defects, 4 tibial defects and 1 femoral defect. The procedure included dressing change, resection of the devitalized soft tissue and bone tissue. After the debridement, the bone defect at one stage was treated with cancellous bone grafting and the wound was open. The wound was closed with skin transplantation when it was covered by granulation tissue completely. RESULTS The wound was covered with granulation tissue in the average 24.1 days after operation and was closed in the average 30.3 days. All the patients were followed up for 8 to 30 months with an average time of 18 months. All the bone defects were healing after bone grafting and there was no infection recurrence. CONCLUSIONS One stage open cancellous bone graft is an easy and feasible treatment for infected bone defect. Resecting of the devitalized tissue before operation, radical debridement, enough bone graft in operation and careful dressing change after operation are all the key factors to acquire the satisfactory outcome.