• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2005

There are limited treatment options in the reconstruction of the very large defect in the metaphyseal portion of distal femur and proximal tibia. Fibula is one of the most popular donor of the long bone reconstruction in reconstructive microsurgical field. It has many advantages such as very strong strut tubular bone, very reliable vascular anatomy with large vascular diameter and long pedicle. There are limited donor site problems such as transient peroneal nerve dysfunction. In those situations with 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 transferred. We performed 7 cases of "doule barrel" fibular transplantation on the metaphyseal portion of distal femur and proximal tibial large defects in which it is very difficult to fill the bony gap with conventional bone graft or callotasis methods. It takes averaged 8.3 months since that procedure to obtain bony union. After solid union of the transferred double barrelled fibular graft. There were no stress fracture in our series. So we can propose double barrel fibular graft is useful method in those cases with very large bone defect on the metaphysis of large long bone.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of limb reconstruction and functional recovery using vascularized fibular graft in the treatment of extensive bone defect of long bone caused by various diseases. Materials and Methods: From september 1995 to March 2005, 21 patients with segmental bone defects were managed with vascularized fibular graft: 13 males and 8 females, aged 39 years on average (range, $8{\sim}65\;years$). The reconstructed site was the humerus in 9 patients, the femur in 5, the tibia in 4 and the forearm bone in 3. The length of bone defect ranged from $8{\sim}17\;cm$. Results: Twenty grafts were successful. The mean period to obtain radiographic bone union was 5.7 months on average. Conclusion: Fibular grafts allow the use of a segment of diaphyseal bone and of sufficient length to reconstruct most skeletal defects of the long bone. The vascularized fibular graft is indicated in patients with intractable nonunions where conventional bone grafting has failed or large bone 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.24 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2015

Free or pedicled vascularized fibular grafts (VFG) are useful for the reconstruction of large skeletal defects, particularly in cases of scarred or avascular beds, or in patients with combined bone and soft tissue defects. Compared to non-VFG, VEG, which contains living osteocytes and osteoblasts, maintains its own viability and serves as good osteoconductive and osteoinductive graft. Due to its many structural and biological advantages, the free fibular osteo- or osteocutaneous graft is considered the most suitable autograft for the reconstruction of long bone defects in the injured extremity. The traditional indication of VFG is the long bone and soft tissue defect, which cannot be reconstructed using a conventional operative method. Recently, the indications have been widely expanded not only for defects of midtibia, humerus, forearm, distal femur, and proximal tibia, but also for the arthrodesis of shoulder and knee joints. Because of its potential to allow further bone growth, free fibular epiphyseal transfer can be used for the hip or for distal radius defects caused by the radical resection of a tumor. The basic anatomy and surgical techniques for harvesting the VFG are well known; however, the condition of the recipient site is different in each case. Therefore, careful preoperative surgical planning should be customized in every patient. In this review, recently expanded surgical indications of VFG and surgical tips based on the author's experiences in the issues of fixation method, one or two staged reconstruction, size mismatching, overcoming the stress fracture, and arthrodesis of shoulder and knee joint using VFG are discussed with the review of literature.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.527-534
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• 2011

Microvascular reconstruction of maxillary composite defect after oncologic resection has improved both esthetic and functional aspect of quality of life of the cancer patients. However, a lot of patients had prior surgery with radiation and/or chemotherapy as a part of comprehensive cancer treatment. Sometimes it is nearly impossible to find out adequate recipient vessel for maxillary reconstruction with microvascular anastomosis. Therefore long pedicle of the flap is needed to use distant neck vessels located far from the reconstruction site such as ipsilateral transverse cervical artery or a branch of contralateral external carotid artery. For this reason, although we know the treatment of the choice is osteocutaneous flap, it is difficult to use this flap when we need long pedicle with complex three dimensional osseous defect. Vascular option for these vessel-depleted neck patients can be managed by a soft tissue reconstruction with long vascular pedicle and additional free non-vascularized flap that is rigidly fixed to remaining skeletal structures. For this reason, maxillofacial reconstruction by vascularized soft tissue flap with or without the secondary restoration of maxillary bone with non-vascularized iliac bone can be regarded as one of options for reconstruction of profound maxillofacial composite defect resulted from previous oncological resection with chemo-radiotherapy.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2000

The advent of free bone flaps has made successful replacement of extensive areas of bone loss in the upper and lower extremities. The microvascular free bone flaps have faster healing without bony absorption or atrophy and can heal in the hostile environment of scarred bed or infection. Since the fibula free flap introduced by Taylor and colleague in 1975, it has been used extensively for skeletal reconstruction of extremities. In 1988, the folded vascularized fibula free flap was first described as a technique to reconstruct significant long bone defect of upper and lower extremities. During the same time, the fibular free flap has evolved to become most preferred choice of mandibular reconstruction. Up to present day, few reports have been made on the fibular free flap used for reconstruction of injured hand containing metacarpal bone and soft tissue defect. We present here our new and unique experiences with vascularized fibular osteocutaneous free flap as useful and satisfactory one for reconstruction of hand with composite defects.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.171-179
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• 1990

This is a report on a case of delayed reconstruction after partial mandibularectomy for Ameloblastoma involving symphysis and bodies of the mandible by using of two large pieces of corticocancellous bone blocks obtained from both iliac crests. The authors failed immediate reconstruction with two kinds of Alloplasts(metal, methylmethacrylate) at two times of trial due to known infection and suggestive poor histocompatibility of materials aginst the host who has been suffered from long-term and active pulmonary tuberculosis. However we could get success late reconstruction of this problem-occured and curved area with two pieces of large corticocancellous blocks by using of miniplate osteosynthesis and biphasic external pin fixation. From our experience we are obtained some results as follows : 1. Alloplastic graft materials seemed to be dangerous to maintain successfuly in patient who has a long-term debilitating disease as a active pulmonary tuberculosis. 2. Biphasic external skeletal pin fixation appliance gave many advantages such as maintain functional position of the remained bodies and condyles of the mandible after removal of failed alloplasts and during control of inflammation of this area, assist supportive roles to fix and maintain bone grafts during healing, allow mandibular movement during healing and so offer to conduct normal functional stimuli to bone grafts during osteogenesis etc. 3. Bony union was successful between not only normal bones and grafted bones but also grafted bone pieces even though we used two pieces of large blocks of corticocancellous bone for graft. 4. Miniplate osteosynthesis was not affect any adverse effects to bone grafts but offered good role of fixation and maintenance for bone grafts.

• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-16
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• 2017

Fibular free flap reconstruction is the flap of the choice in long-span mandibular bone reconstruction. The most common disadvantage of the fibular flap is short bone height to install dental implant. Double barrel fibular flap has been tried, however, bulky flap in the oral cavity hinder its use. Titanium reconstruction plate has been used simultaneously with the free fibular flap to stabilize occlusion and to fix the fibular flap. In this study, titanium reconstruction plate was fixed in the lower border of the mandible and the fibular free flap was fixed in the superior border of the titanium plate to improve implant-crown ratio. This new technique improved the longevity of the dental prosthodontics with dental implants.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.688-694
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• 2006

Purpose: Reconstruction of the craniofacial defects can be carried out with autogenous tissues, allogenic implants, or alloplastic materials. Titanium mesh systems have been used for bony reconstruction in non load-bearing areas. They offer several advantages: immediate availibility without any donor site morbidity, easy handling, stable 3-D reconstruction, and low susceptibility to infection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness and complications of titanium mesh system in the reconstruction of the craniofacial defects. Methods: From Jan. 2000, to Dec. 2004, we performed reconstruction of craniofacial bone defects in 21 patients who had benign or malignant tumor and fracture events in the cranium, orbit, nasal bone, maxilla, zygoma and the mandible. The size of the defects ranged from $1.0{\times}1.5cm$ to $12{\times}10cm$. Two different mesh systems, micro-titanium augmentation mesh and dynamic mesh was used for bony reconstruction in non load-bearing areas. The patients were evaluated from 1 to 4 yrs clinically and radiographically with a mean follow up period of 1.5 yrs. Results: There were no serious complications, including wound infection, foreign body reaction, exposures or loos of the mesh, central infection and pathologic findings of bone around mesh exception of one patient, who had expired of skull base tumor recurrence. Long-term stability of the reconstructions and the overall functional and aesthetic outcome was excellent. Conclusion: Our experiences demonstrate that the Titanium mesh system is a relatively safe and efficient method in the craniofacial reconstruction and have broadens our choices of therapeutic procedures in the craniomaxillofacial surgery.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 1996

We investigated the effect of deep-freezed, boiled and autoclaved autogenous long bone graft on the incorporation of the radial diaphyseal reconstruction in 30 rabbits by radiogram and histology for 8 weeks. Immediate histologic changes of 1cm of resected long bone treated by deep freezing, boiling and autoclaving in each 2 rabbits were also observed as control. Resected, boiled ($95^{\circ}C$ for 5 min.) and reimplanted bone was compared with resected, autoclaved ($131^{\circ}C$ for 5 min.) and reimplanted bone, and resected, deep freezed with liquid nitrogen for 5 minutes and thawing in saline and reimplanted bone in the reconstruction of bilateral radial defects in each of 8, and in total 24 adult rabbits. The results were as follows : 1. Immediate histologic changes showed that intracortical osteocytes in lacunae were partially necrotized and the cortex were faintly stained with they Masson trichrome stain in both boiled and deep freezed groups, while they completely necrotized and their cortex stained more weakly with Masson trichrome stain in autoclaved group which means less amount of collagen and protein in cortex of long bone. 2. Radiographies at 8 weeks showed complete union with more marked incorporation and external callus formation in all boiled and freezed groups, whereas there was delayed union in four of sixteen (25%) in autoclaved group. Histologically, at 8 weeks after boiled and freezed, more intense incorporation with new bone formation and neovascularization were observed, whereas transverse clefts consisted with delayed union in 4 cases of autoclaved group (25%) were observed at osteotomy site. Through these studies, the boilod and deeply freezed bones acted as an osteoinductive material as well as osteoconductive, but the autoclaved bone only as osteoconductive. Though boilod and deeply freezed bone showed higher osteogenic potentials than autoclaved bone, the necrotizing effect on cortical and boiled bone was inferior to that of autoclaved. Thus the deeply freezed bone can be used for the treatment of aggressive benign or less malignant bone tumor not involving cortical bone, but the autoclaved bone supplemented with bone graft for the treatment of malignant bone tumor involving cortex of long bone.