• 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.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 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.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2004

The vascularity of a skin island in fibula osteocutaneous free flap often depends on musculocutaneous perforators that find their origin in the proximal peroneal artery. But a potential drawback has been reported on the unreliability of the skin paddle. The perforating vessels to the skin paddle of the fibula osteocutaneous free flap were rarely derived from a common tibio-fibula trunk, an anterior tibial artery and a posterior tibial artery. Previous studies have emphasized total loss of the overlying skin paddle, if the expected perforating vessels are not present. We report here on our experience that the skin paddle of the fibula osteocutaneous free flap was vascularized not by a peroneal artery but a direct branch of the posterior tibial artery. There were no intraseptal nor intramuscular pedicles in the posterior crural septum which connected to the overlying skin island. Therefore, we performed microsurgical anastomoses between distal peroneal vessels of the fibula and the perforating branches of the posterior tibial vessels of the skin paddle. The anastomosed skin paddle was salvaged with a peroneal flow through vascular anastomosis and was transferred to the bone and intraoral soft tissue defects with the fibula graft. The patient had no evidence of vascular compromise in the postoperative period and showed good healing of the intraoral skin flap.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.84-90
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• 2021

Vascularized bone grafts (VBGs) are widely employed to reconstruct upper extremity bone defects. Conventional bone grafting is generally used to treat defects smaller than 5-6 cm, when tissue vascularization is adequate and there is no infection risk. Vascularized fibular grafts (VFGs) are mainly used in the humerus, radius or ulna in cases of persistent non-union where traditional bone grafting has failed or for bone defects larger than 6 cm. Furthermore, VFGs are considered to be the standard treatment for large bone defects located in the radius, ulna and humerus and enable the reconstruction of soft-tissue loss, as VFGs can be harvested as osteocutaneous flaps. VBGs enable one-stage surgical reconstruction and are highly infection-resistant because of their autonomous vascularization. A vascularized medial femoral condyle (VFMC) free flap can be used to treat small defects and non-unions in the upper extremity. Relative contraindications to these procedures are diabetes, immunosuppression, chronic infections, alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse and obesity. The aim of our study was to illustrate the use of VFGs to treat large post-traumatic bone defects and osteomyelitis located in the upper extremity. Moreover, the use of VFMC autografts is presented.