• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2002

Purpose: The purposes of the present study were to find the ideal insertion position syndesmosis screw and relation to the surrounding anatomical structures when indirectly inserting the screw anteriorly at a 30 angle at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle join t. Materials and Methods: We performed computed tomography from the axial view in 20 normal individuals at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle joint and divided the lateral side of the fibula into 4 sections. We drew a line from the middle of each of these 4 sections to the posterolateral tibia at a 30 angle and determined the relationship between each of these lines and the surrounding anatomical structures and confirmed the site at which each of these 4 lines passed through the posterolateral tibia which divided into 3 sections and the site of the fibula at which each of these lines passed through the middle 1/3 portion of the tibia. Results: The posterior 3/4 portion of the fibula that passed through the middle 1/3 portion of the posterolateral tibia in 18 cases. The portion did not approach the surrounding anatomical structures(Peroneal vessels and the muscular portion of FHL). Conclusion: The ideal insertion position of syndesmosis screw at 3 cm proximal portion of the ankle joint at a 30 angle is the posterior 3/4 portion of the lateral side of the fibula, and injury to the surrounding anatomical structures could be avoided when the screw passes through the middle 1/3 portion of the posterolateral tibia.

• 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.

• 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.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.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.200-205
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• 2003

Purpose: To report our experiences of clinical features, treatment method and results of giant cell tumor of 5 patients in proximal fibula. Materials and Methods: Five patients managed with an en bloc resection preserving common peroneal nerve and lateral collateral ligament reconstruction with biceps femoris tendon followed up between January 1997 and July 2001. Preoperative plain radiograph and MRI and bone scan were checked. The recurrence of the tumor was judged by plain radiograph and clinical signs. Lateral instability of knee joint was checked during the outpatient follow-up. Results: The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was twenty- three (21-29). There were one male and four female patients. Dull pain was main symptom and palpable mass was seen in two patients. Peroneal nerve palsy and local recurrence were not observed except one case of temporary peroneal nerve palsy. During the outpatient follow up, one among 5 patients showed slight lateral instability and the other 4 patients showed no instabililty. Conclusion: Giant cell tumor in proximal fibula managed with an en bloc resection preserving common peroneal nerve and lateral collateral ligament reconstruction with biceps femoris tendon showed favorable results.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2006

Twelve cases in eleven patients with segmental bone defects were treated with contralateral fibula free flap and ipsilateral island fibula flap in an antegrade, retrograde or bidirectional flow fashion. Five cases were managed with free flaps and seven were with ipsilateral fibula island transfer. Among seven cases, antegrade fashion was three, retrograde was three, and bidirectional was one. All patients were related with open tibial fractures and its sequelae except one who had open foot bone fracture. According to Gustilo's classification, ten patients were type IIIb and one was type IIIc. Basically, antegrade-flow flaps based on the peroneal vessels as in the conventional free flap were used for the proximal or middle one-third tibial defects. On the contrary, retrograde-flow flaps based on the communicating branch between the peroneal and posterior tibial vessels were used for the middle or distal one-third of the tibia. Bidirection-flow flap based on intact peroneal vessels were used for the middle portion of the tibia. The patients who have undergone ipsilateral fibula island flap had one of the following problems: a previously failed free flap, below-knee amputation of the opposite leg because of open tibial fracture, refusal to use the contralateral sound leg, or poor general condition to stand a lengthy operation. Six of the patients who have got ipsilateral fibula island flap also had an associated fibula fracture on the same leg, which was ultimately used as one of the osteotomy sites. The follow-up period was from 1 to 10 years. Two cases of free flap were failed: one patient had below-knee amputation and the other patient had ipsilateral fibula transfer. Other cases were successful and excellent hypertophy of the transferred fibula was achieved. Time to bone union ranged from 4 to 11 months. Time to full weight bearing was from 5 to 13 months after surgery. All of the transferred fibulas showed hypertrophy after weight bearing. In one case, stress fracture was developed during ambulation, which was healed conservatively. Nonunion occurred in two cases, which were treated with a long leg cast and cancellous bone graft, respectively. Length discrepancy of the legs was noted. The limb was shorter by an average 0.5 cm in three cases, longer by 1.1 cm in one case. In the case of island fibula transfer, limited arc of rotation was not a problem. Other disabling complications were not seen. We believe that these diverse modalities using a vascularized fibula will make us more comfortable to handle major bone defects.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 2013

Purpose: Preshaped Locking compression plate(LCP) has holes with fixed angle between screw and plate and have advantage firm fixation because it has stability of angular and axial deformity. We evaluated usefulness of LCP after open reduction and internal fixation in distal fibular fracture. Materials and Methods: Between December 2011 and May 2012, 23 patients with fracture of distal fibula were followed up at least 12 months underwent open reduction and internal fixation with LCP. There were 15 males and 8 females with a mean age 39.8(20~69) years. According to Danis-Weber classification, there were 20 cases of type B and 3 cases of type C. There were 13 cases of isolated lateral malleolus fractures, 1 case of bimalleolar fracture, 6 cases of trimalleolar fractures and 3 cases of distal tibia fractures with proximal fibula fracture. Intraoperatively, we assessed whether preshaped LCP fit lateral margin of distal fibula or not and evaluated quality of reduction and postoperative complications. The cases were analyzed by radiological bone union time and clinical results according to the criteria of Meyer Results: Of all cases, complete bone union was achieved and average radiological bone union time was 7.3(6~12) weeks. The clinical results were excellent in 18 cases(78%), good in 5 cases(22%). There were 5 cases of plate with 3 holes, 13 cases of plate with 4 holes, 2 cases of plate with 5 holes, 1 case of plate with 6 holes and 2 cases of plate with 7 holes. The average number of screws at proximal fragement was 2.5 and at distal fragment was 3.5. In 14 cases (60.8 %), we needed re-bending of plate because the distance between plate and lateral cortical margin of distal fibula was more than 5 mm at anteroposterior X-ray after reduction. All cases have anatomical reduction and there were no complications of wound infections. There were no complaint about hardware irritation. Conclusion: At fractures of distal fibula,preshaped LCP had a excellent stability although far cortex was not fixed with screw and bending of plate. And there are less complications of hardware irritation and wound problems. But, Some complement would be needed because there were no complete fitting between precontour of LCP and lateral cortical margin of distal fibula.

• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.90-93
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• 2015

The fibula free flap has now become the most reliable and frequently used option for mandible reconstruction. Recently, three dimensional images and printing technologies are applied to mandibular reconstruction. We introduce our recent experience of mandibular reconstruction using three dimensionally planned fibula free flap in a patient with gunshot injury. The defect was virtually reconstructed with three-dimensional image. Because bone fragments are dislocated from original position, relocation was necessary. Fragments are virtually relocated to original position using mirror image of unaffected right side of the mandible. A medical rapid prototyping (MRP) model and cutting guide was made with 3D printer. Titanium reconstruction plate was adapted to the MRP model manually. 7 cm-sized fibula bone flap was designed on left lower leg. After dissection, proximal and distal margin of fibula flap was osteotomized by using three dimensional cutting guide. Segmentation was also done as planned. The fibula bone flap was attached to the inner side of the prebent reconstruction plate and fixed with screws. Postoperative evaluation was done by comparison between preoperative planning and surgical outcome. Although dislocated condyle is still not in ideal position, we can see that reconstruction was done as planned.

• 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.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.220-226
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• 2018

Background: This study introduces a surgical technique with good clinical outcome useful in the treatment of osteoporotic displaced 3- or 4-part proximal humeral fractures. Methods: From May 2014 to February 2016, 16 patients with displaced 3- or 4-part proximal humeral fractures were treated by application of a locking plate with an endosteal strut allograft via a deltoid splitting approach with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. The allograft was inserted through a fractured gap of the greater tuberosity to support the humeral head and then fixed by a locking plate with meticulous soft tissue dissection to protect the axillary nerve. Surgical outcomes were evaluated by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, radiological imaging, and clinical examination. Fixation failure on radiographs was defined as a >$5^{\circ}$ loss of neck shaft angle (NSA) compared to that on an immediate postoperative radiograph. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the humeral head was also evaluated. Results: In all cases, complete union was achieved. The ASES and VAS scores were improved to $85.4{\pm}2.1$ and $3.2{\pm}1.3$, respectively. Twelve patients (75.0%) had greater than a $5^{\circ}$ change in NSA; the average NSA change was $3.8^{\circ}$. Five patients (31.3%) had unsatisfactory ranges of motion exhibiting a <$100^{\circ}$ active forward flexion. No axillary nerve injuries or AVN were observed at the last follow-up. One patient was converted to reverse total arthroplasty due to severe pain and functional deficit. Conclusions: Minimally invasive fixation via a locking compression plate and an endosteal fibula strut allograft in Neer classification 3-or 4-part fractures with severe osteoporosis in elderly patients can achieve good clinical results.