• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2002

Purpose : To analyze the clinical results of free vascularized osteocutaneous fibula graft to tibial defect combined with soft tissue defect and infection. Materials and Methods : In the retrospective study of 51 consecutive cases of vascularized osteocutaneous fibular graft, the length of the grafted fibula, size of the skin flap, anastomosed vessels, ischemic time of the flap, time for union, hypertrophy of fibula and the complications were evaluated. Results : Initial bony union of the grafted fibula was obtained at 3.74 months after operation, except 4 cases of nonunion and delayed union. The weight bearing without external supports was possible at 18 months after operation in average. The fracture of grafted fibula was most common complication(16 cases). Conclusion : The vascularized osteocutaneous fibula graft provided satisfactory bony union and functional results in the cases not responsible for conventional treatment methods.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1995

In certain low-grade malignant bone tumors such as chondrosarcoma or frequent recurrent benign bone tumors as ossifying fibroma, radical treatment may provide a good chance for cure. And large bony defect after the radical treatment can be filled with the massive bone graft. Recent advances in clinical microsurgery have made free vascularized bone graft a clinical reality, and Taylor in 1975, first reported the technique of free vascularized fibula graft for the reconstruction of large tibial defect with excellent clinical results. We tried wide excision and free vascularized fibula graft in 5 patients with ossifying fibroma and one patient with chondrosarcoma from January 1984 to December 1994 and followed for more one year. The shortest bony defect was 7cm and the longest bony defect was 20cm and mean bony defect was 13cm. All patients were evaluated clinically and roentgenographycally on basis of functional recovery and bony union. All patients showed satisfactory functional recovery with sound bony union and showed bony hypertrophy. And, local recurrence was not seen.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2015

Purpose: The reconstruction of femur and tibia defects following tumor resection remains a surgical challenge. The clinical outcome of free vascularized fibula graft (VFG) reconstruction with locking plate for massive femur and tibia defects of more than 10 cm that were secondary to skeletal tumor resection is reported. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with a mean follow-up of 3.3 years were reviewed. Seven patients received vascularized fibula grafts in the femur and six in the tibia. The mean bony defect of the femur and tibia was more than 10 cm and the length of the grafted fibula was more than 15 cm. All defects were stabilized with long locking plates. Results: All patients were free of disease at final follow-up; All VFGs were transferred successfully. All patients had a successful outcome with bony union. Stress fractures of the grafted fibula had occurred but the locking plate stabilized the fracture and healed until the last follow-up. All patients were able to walk without a brace after a mean of 9 months postoperatively. Conclusion: VFG with locking plate is a reliable reconstructive procedure for massive femur and tibia defects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2016

The reconstruction of the mandible is a complex procedure because various cosmetic as well as functional challenges must be addressed, including mastication and oral competence. Many surgical techniques have been described to address these challenges, including non-vascularized bone grafts, vascularized bone grafts, and approaches related to tissue engineering. This review summarizes different modifications of the free vascularized fibula graft, which, since its introduction by Hidalgo in 1989, has become the first option for mandibular reconstruction. The fibula free flap can undergo various modifications according to the individual requirements of a particular reconstruction. Osteocutaneous flaps can be harvested for reconstruction of composite defects. 'Double-barreling' of the fibula can, for instance, enable enhanced aesthetic and functional results, as well as immediate one-stage osseointegrated dental implantation. Recently described preoperative virtual surgery planning to facilitate neomandible remodeling could guarantee good results. To conclude, the free fibula bone graft can currently be regarded as the "gold standard" for mandibular reconstruction in case of composite (inside and outside) oral cavity defects as well as a way of enabling the performance of one-stage dental implantation.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1995.11a
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• pp.78.1-78.1
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• 1995

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 1998

Free vascularized fibular is the most usuful bony donor of the long bone reconstruction in reconstructive microsurgical field. It has many benifits such as very strong strut tubular bone, very reliable vascular anatomy with large vascular diameter with long pedicle, minimal donor site morbity too. In that situations of the huge long bone defects in distal femur or proximal tibia, the defective bony shape and strength of the transplanted fibular bone is not enough if only one strut of the fibula is transfered. The bony circulation of the fibula has two ways, one from nutrient artery via peroneal artery through nutrient foramen which makes endosteal arterial network inside of the fibula, another way is periosteal network through outside encircling vascular network of the bone which distributed in muscle sleeves of the fibular diaphysis. Authors modified free vascularized fibular bone graft with transverse osteotomy is made from the anterolateral aspect of the fibular shaft just distal to entry of the nutrient artery. This produces two vascularized bone struts that may be folded pararell to each other but that remain connected by the periosteum and muscle cuff surrounding the peroneal artery and veins. The proximal strut is vascularized by both a periosteal and endosteal blood supply, whereas the distal strut is vascularized by a periosteal blood supply alone. This procedure can call "doule barrel" free vascularized fibular graft. We performed 7 cases of doule barrel fashined fibular transplantation on distal femur and proximal tibial large defects. Average bone union time takes 7 months from that procedure. There were no significant bone union time differences between both proximal and distal struts. After solid union of the transfered double barrel fibular graft, there were no stress fracture in our series. We can propose double barrel free vascualized fibular graft is usuful method in that cases with very large bone defect on large long bones especially metaphyseal defects.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.437-447
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• 2013

The fibula is one of the most useful sources for harvest of a vascularized bone graft. The fibula is a straight, long, tubed bone, much stronger than any other available bone that can currently be used for a vascularized graft. It has a reliable peroneal vascular pedicle with a large diameter and moderate length. There is a definite nutrient artery that enters the medullary cavity, as well as multiple arcade vessels, which add to the supply of the bone through periosteal circulation. The vascularized fibula graft is used mainly for long segment defects of the long tubed bone of the upper and lower extremities. It can provide a long, straight length up to 25 cm in an adult. The fibula can be easily osteotomized and can be used in reconstruction of the curved mandible. Since the first description as a vascularized free fibula bone graft by Taylor in 1975 and as a mandibular reconstruction by Hidalgo in 1989, the fibula has continued to replace the bone and soft tissue reconstruction options in the field of maxillofacial reconstruction. For the better understanding of a fibular free flap, the constant anatomical findings must be learned and memorized by young doctors during the specialized training course for the Korean National Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. This article reviews the anatomical basis of a fibular free flap with Korean language.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 1997

We have evaluated the clinical results following the 46 cases of free vascularized osteocutaneous fibular flap transfer to the tibial defect combined with skin and soft tissue defect, which were performed from May 1982 to January 1997. Regarding to the operation, flap size, length of the grafted fibula, anastomosed vessels, ischemic time of the flap and total operation time were measured. After the operation, time to union of grafted fibula and the amount of hypertrophy of grafted fibula were periodically measured through the serial X-ray follow-up and also the complications and results of treatment were evaluated. In the 46 consecutive procedures of free vascularized osteocutaneous fibular flap transfer, initial bony union were obtained in the 43 grafted fibulas at average 3.75 months after the operation. There were 2 cases in delayed unions and 1 in nonunion. 44 cutaneous flaps among the 46 cases were survived but 2 cases were necrotized due to deep infection and venous insufficiency. One necrotized flap was treated with latissimus dorsi free flap transfer and the other was treated with soleus muscle rotational flap. Grafted fibulas have been hypertrophied during the follow-up periods. The fracture of grafted fibula(15 cases) was the most common complication and occurred at average 9.7 months after the operation. The fractured fibulas were treated with the cast immobilization or internal fixation with conventional cancellous bone graft. In the cases of tibia and fibula fracture at recipient site, the initial rigid fixation for the fibula fracture at recipient site could prevent the fracture of grafted fibula to the tibia.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2011

Vascularized free fibula head transfer is an established method for reconstruction of long bone defects of the upper limb involving the distal radius or the proximal humerus. For the wrist following tumor resection, in cases of resection of the radial articular surface, three reconstructive options are possible: 1. fibular head transfer to replace the radial joint surface, 2. fixation of the fibula to the scaphoid and lunate, 3. complete wrist fusion. The decision on the type of the operation depends on the amount of the resection and the remained normal anatomical structures, and also the necessity of function of the wrist in the future. The authors believe that the vascularized free fibula head graft is a safe and reliable method for reconstructing the upper limb, especially for patients with a defect of the distal radius, and report the operative methods, donor vascular consideration, complications, and functional result after this operation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.523-528
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• 2023

The Gustilo IIIB tibiofibular fractures often result in long bone loss and extensive soft tissue defects. Reconstruction of these complex wounds is very challenging, especially when it includes long bone grafts, because the donor site is limited. We describe our experience using a set of chimeric ipsilateral vascularized fibula grafts with a thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap to reconstruct the traumatic tibia defects. A 66-year-old male suffered a severe comminuted tibia fracture and segmented fibula fracture with large soft tissue defects as a result of a traffic accident. He also had an open calcaneal fracture with soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral side. All the main vessels of the lower extremity were intact, and the cortical bone defect of the tibia was almost as large as the fractured fibula segment. We used an ipsilateral vascularized fibula graft to reconstruct the tibia and a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap to resurface the soft tissue, using the distal ends of peroneal vessels as named into sequential chimeric flaps. After 3 weeks, the calcaneal defect was reconstructed with second thoracodorsal artery perforator free flap. Reconstruction was successful and allowed rapid rehabilitation because of reduced donor site morbidity.