2009 Volume 21 Issue 2 Pages 401-405
The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical results of reconstruction using a free vascularized fibular graft.
Between 1991 and 2007, 22 patients (16 male and 6 female, aged 3 to 74 years) with osteomyelitis, mandibular tumor, long bone tumor and congenital pseudoarthrosis were treated with vascularized fibular grafts. The mean length of the graft was 15cm (range, 9 to 22cm). Ten grafts were used in the lower limb, one in the upper limb, and eleven in the jaw.
Complications occurred in 6/22 patients of whom 5 required a second operation. Postoperative thrombosis at vascular anastomoses necessitated reexploration in 3 patients.
The mean period required for radiographically evident bone union was 9.3 months. The union rate was 100% (10/10) in the lower and upper limbs, and 73% (8/11) in the jaw.
