Long-Term Result of the Epiphyseal Transplantation in Distal Forearm

전완원위부 변형에 대한 혈관부착 성장판 이식술

We analyzed 11 children who underwent epiphyseal transplantation to the forearm for manage growing deformity ranged from 2 years 6 months to years(average 5 years 10 months) follow-up period. Etiologies of the functional impairment of the eleven were five traumatic, three congenital and three tumorous conditions. Lesions of epiphysis were distal radius in eight patients and distal ulna in three patients. Operation was performed with removal of non-functioning or deformed epiphysis followed by transplantation of free vascularized proximal fibular epiphysis with microvascular anastomesis. Evaluation was performed radiologically and functionally. The 9(81.8%) patients showed growth of transplanted epiphysis by radiological examination during follow up. At the last follow up, average growth rate was 0.86cm per year excepts 2 cases of no growth. Active wrist motion near normal to contralateral joint was achieved in 7 patients. In other 2 patients, active joint motion was improved but weaker than contralateral joint. Complications on donor site were two transient peroneal nerve palsy which have been resolved after 2 and 5 months post operation and one valgus ankle deformity. The ankle deformity was corrected with $Langenski\"{o}ld$ operation of the dital tibiofibular fusion. At recipient site, there was one superficial infection and it was easily controlled by systemic antibiotics. Many subsequent reports have described successful nonvascularized epiphyseal transplante, but overall results have been inconsistent and unsatisfactory. Other experimental and clinical studies in the transfer of vascularized epiphyses has encourage its clinical application. We also could gel successful growth in several cases with free vascularized epiphyseal transplantation.