The authors reviewed retrospectively the clinical results of 51 consecutive cases
of vascularized osteocutaneous fibular graft to the tibia for the reconstruction of
extensive tibial bone and soft-tissue defects. The mean duration of follow-up was
31 months (range: 13 to 76 months). In the 51 procedures of free vascularized osteocutaneous
fibula graft from the contralateral side, bony union was achieved in 48 cases at an
average of 3.74 months after the operation, except for two cases of non-union and
two cases of delayed union. Forty-eight cutaneous flaps survived, and three cutaneous
flaps failed due to deep infection and venous thrombosis. All united fibulae hypertrophied
during the follow-up periods. Stress fracture of the grafted fibula was the most common
complication (16 cases), and it was treated with above-the-knee cast immobilization
or internal fixation with a conventional cancellous bone graft. The free vascularized
osteocutaneous fibular graft is recommended as a useful treatment modality for the
reconstruction of extensive tibial defects combined with soft tissue injury.
KEYWORDS
Vascularized osteocutaneous fibular graft - tibial defects - soft-tissue repair
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Seung Beom HanM.D.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Korea University Hospital
126-1, 5Ka, Anam-Dong, SungBuk-ku, Seoul, 160-705, Korea
