Free Fibular Graft Research Articles

Extending intramedullary rods in congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia

Five patients with Boyd type II congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia underwent excision of the pseudarthrosis and double onlay bone grafting. Stability was maintained by extending intramedullary rods. Clinical union was achieved in all cases at a mean of 8.6 months (range six to 11). The rods extended by 15.7% (range 2% to 31.4%) as growth occurred. One rod was removed because of infection and a vascularised free fibular graft was subsequently performed. The extending rods provided stability while union occurred and did not require revision as the legs grew. The rods can be removed easily and have not jeopardized further surgical options.

Free Fibular Graft to the Segmental Dedect of Long Bone

Free Fibular Graft to the Segmental Dedect of Long Bone

The blood supply of the osteocutaneous free fibular graft

The use of an osteocutaneous free fibular graft as a single-stage reconstructive procedure for composite tissue loss is increasingly common. Detailed anatomical study in cadavers of the blood supply to the graft demonstrates cutaneous arteries arising from the peroneal artery and then passing along the posterior surface of the lateral intermuscular septum. These vessels pierce the crural fascia and then ramify to supply the skin. Knowledge of the vascular anatomy of the skin overlying the fibula is essential to the success of the graft.

Treatment of femoral neck fractures with a cancellous screw and fibular graft.

Twenty-six patients with femoral neck fractures were treated by open reduction, cancellous screw fixation and free fibular grafting. The patients were between 14 and 50 years of age. There were 16 old and 10 fresh fractures. Four patients had radiological signs of avascular necrosis before the treatment was instituted. Bony union was achieved in all patients except one, where the failure occurred because of a technical error. The patients were followed up for at least two years. No new case of avascular necrosis was detected after treatment, and there was clinical and radiological improvement in all four patients with pre-operative avascular necrosis.

Application of free autogenous fibular graft in the treatment of aggressive bone tumours of the distal end of the radius.

Long-term results of the application of free autogenous fibular graft in the treatment of aggressive bone tumours of the distal end of the radius are presented. Six patients underwent radical resection of the tumour including the articular surface of the distal radius during the period 1969 to 1978, the average follow-up time being 5 years. In one case the tumour was low grade chondrosarcoma, in three cases a giant cell tumour grade two to three and in the remaining two a hemangioma. Five to twelve cm of the distal radius was resected and the defect was replaced using the ipsilateral proximal part of the fibula as free graft. Osteosynthesis was performed end to end with a plate fixation, or side to side with screw fixation. At follow-up, the range of motion in the radiocarpal joint was normal or close to normal in each case and all patients had returned to work within 6 months of the operation. None of the patients presented a recidive of the tumour.

Vascular microsurgery in orthopaedics.

Three applications of free vascularised bone grafts are described. Free fibular grafts have been performed in 19 cases of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. The grafts are placed along the anterior femoral neck and into the femoral head with a microvascular anastomosis between the nutrient vessels of the fibula and the anterior circumflex pedicle of the hip. The operative technique is described but the post-operative follow-up is still too short to draw any definite conclusions. This operation has been performed in young patients in whom the only alternative would be a total hip replacement. Free vascularised transfers of iliac crest bone are described for bone defects such as infected non-unions of the tibia with soft tissue and bony loss. Free vascularised fibula grafts have also been employed with cancellous grafting for cystic defects such as fibrous dysplasia and large bone cysts. The use of free vascularised fibula grafts is also described in four cases of congenital pseuodarthrosis of the tibia.