Vascularized Fibula Graft for Restoration of the Large Bone Defect

Yoo, Myung Chul; Kim, Bong Kun; Bae, Sang Wook; Oh, Dong Chul

Abstract

We analyzed 34 cases of large bone defect caused by trauma, infection and tumor resection from July, 1979 to June, 1985. The bony defect were restored by vascularized fibular graft or vascularized fibular transposition. 22 cases were the traumatic segmental loss and 7 cases were infected ones and 5 cases were the loss following tumor resection. Vascularized fibular graft was performed in 19 cases and vascularized fibular transposition was performed in 15 cases. The 33 cases(97%) of 34 cases had obtained sound bony union and average union time had been 18.6 weeks. Even local infection in the bone, vascularized fibular graft or transposition can be performed. Grafted or transposed fibula had been hypertrophied about 1.2 times in anteroposterior and lateral film which had been measured in the center of the fibula. The most common complication was the clawing of first or second toe. If the ipsilateral fibula is intact, the vascularized fibular transposition is better and if not, vascularized fibular graft is preferred. Operation using the vascularized fibula is a excellent method for the restoration of large bone defect in long bone.