Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of induced membrane technique for treatment of bone defects by extracorporeal formation of multi-column bone cement spacer. Methods After debridement and bone fixation at the first stage of induced membrane technique, multi-column bone cement spacer was made by extracorporeal formation according to the size of bone defects, then placed into the bone defects after consolidation and cooling, and antibiotic-impregnated bone cement was used in bone with infection. Bone graft performed after removing the spacer at the second stage of induced membrane technique. Sixteen patients with bone defects of 2.0-9.0 cm (average 6.1 cm) were treated with the above method, eleven of whom had bone infection. The healing of bone defects and functionary recovery of adjacent joints were graded according to Paley's method. Results Except 1 case of bone infection had a second debridement at the first stage, the others had the infection controlled after one time debridement at the first stage. All the patients were followed up for 13 to 50 months (average 16.3 months) after bone graft at the second stage, and all of the bone defects healed, the clinical healing time was 4 to 5 months (average 4.5 months). All the patients resumed weight-bearing activities after healing. There was no infection or recurrence of infection. The healing of all the bone defects was graded excellent; the functionary recovery of the adjacent joints was excellent in 5 cases, good in 9 cases and fair in 2 cases. Conclusions Application of induced membrane technique to treatment of bone defects with extracorporeally-formed multi-column bone cement spacer has good effect for control of infection as there are large surface area, easy lavage of medullary cavity and high releasing rate of antibiotics. Meanwhile, there is no damage to the induced membrane as the spacer can be easily removed, it also has good effect for repair of bone defects.