• 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.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2011

Lunate revascularization with the vascularized bone grafts is a current concept in the treatment of Kienbo${\ddot{o}}$ck disease. The aim of this study is to present our experience and preliminary results of the treatment using the fourth extensor compartment artery (4 ECA) vascularized bone graft for Kienbo${\ddot{o}}$ck disease. Between May 2009 and June 2010, five patients (3 men and 2 women) with Kienbo${\ddot{o}}$ck disease were treated with 4 ECA vascularized bone grafts. The mean age was 32.8 years and mean follow-up time was 13 months. The patients were composed of two patients in stage II and three patients in stage IIIa according to Lichtman's classification. Modified Mayo wrist score including pain, grip strength, range of motion and functional status and radiographic parameters such as carpal height ratio and radioscaphoid angle were evaluated at a final follow-up. Pain was markedly diminished and modified Mayo wrist score was 82 at last follow up period. There were no or little changes in carpal height ratio and radioscaphoid angle. All patients showed satisfactory bony union and no further lunate collapse on follow-up radiographs. The 4 ECA vascularized bone graft is a reliable alternative procedures among revascularization procedures for treatment of Kienbo${\ddot{o}}$ck's disease. It is less invasive and has low risk of kinking of pedicle compared to the 4+5 ECA vascularized bone graft. However, long term follow-up and MRI evaluation at follow up period should be needed for the future.

• 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.9 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2000

Arthrodesis of the ankle joint is inevitable in the cases of severe arthrosis or defective bony structures around ankle joint. There have been many kinds of arthrodesis methods were introduced. In cases with failed athrodesis with previous arthrodesis surgery and neuropathic joints have difficulty to achieve fusion of joint with conventional methods. Authors underwent four cases of ankle fusion with vascularized fibular graft from 1997 in the cases of three failed fusions and one diabetic neuropatic joint. Two of four performed free vascularized fibular transplantation from contralateral side leg with microvascular anastomosis, two of four performed with pedicled fibular transposition to the ankle joint in same side leg. Three of four cases achieved arthrodesis average 9.2 months after surgery, one case was failed due to vascular thrombosis of the anastomosed site in diabetic neuropathic condition. The result of this technique revealed 75%(three of four) success rate and longer bone union time required. However, in these cases had no recommendable options with conventional bone graft and additional ankle joint fusions procedure because of poor bone quality and defect of distal tibia and talus portions. Free vascualrized fibular transfer to the failed athrodesis of ankle joint is one of the effective alternative methods in failed ankle fusion cases, especially the quality of the bone around previous fusion site is poor.

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

• 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.5 no.1
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• pp.147-150
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• 1996

In the benign bone tumor such a fibrous dysplasia, destructive lesion is generally treated by curettage and simple bone graft. Such lesions are unlikely to recur if treated local curettage with bone graft or simple excision of the lesion. When it is impossible to cure only with simple bone graft due to wide extent of tumor, vascularized fibular graft have been introduced for functional loss and appearance. The recurrence of the primary tumor in the grafted fibula is rare in benign bone lesion. We experienced a case of fibrous dysplasia which was recurred in the grafted fibula following the initial treatment with vascularized fibular graft. So we report a case of our experience.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2000

February 1995 to September 1999, authors have experienced seven cases of infected nonunion of tibial fractures with associated soft tissue injury and skin defect, and have accomplished union in all cases by free vascularized fibular graft. All grafts healed with no radiographic evidence of bone necrosis or resorption and have been able to treat large bony defect and skin defect simultaneously. In this study, five cases of vascularized free fibular osteocutaneous flap transfer and two cases of free fibular graft are reported. All of seven cases were infected nonunion of tibia. The results were obtained as follows 1) The mean duration of the radiologic bone union was average 5.3months. 2) Grafted fibular has been hypertrophied, average 10.6 months. 3) In five cases of preservation of posterior cortex of tibia, bony union and hypertrophy of grafted bone were earlier than that two cases of complete segmental resection of tibia. 4) In two cases which only free vascularized fibular graft were performed because achievement of cutaneous flap was failed, authors found that soft tissue defect was filled with granulation tissue and split-thickness skin graft was possible over the granulation tissue after 3 weeks postoperatively.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.272-277
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• 2014

Objectives: Non-vascularized iliac crest bone graft (NVIBG) is a known treatment option in mandibular reconstruction following jaw resection, but no documented review of patients treated with NVIBG exists for northern Nigeria. The experience and technique from a Nigerian tertiary hospital may serve as baseline data for comparison and improvement of practice for other institutions. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of medical records and patient case files from January 2012 to December 2013 was undertaken. All case files and other medical records of patients who had reconstruction with NVIBG for benign or malignant lesions with immediate or delayed reconstruction were selected for review. Results: Twenty patients had mandibular reconstruction with NVIBG during the study period. Two patients were excluded because of incomplete medical records. Eighteen patients' (male=14, female=4) records were reviewed. Their ages ranged from 13 to 62 years (mean $26.0{\pm}10.6years$). Indications for NVIBG included jaw tumors (n=16; 88.3%), jaw cyst (n=1; 5.6%) and gunshot injury (n=1; 5.6%). Jaw tumors seen were ameloblastoma (n=15; 83.3%) and osteosarcoma (n=1; 5.6%). Treatments done were mandibular resection with condylar resection (n=7; 38.9%), mandibular segmental resection (n=10; 55.6%) and subtotal mandibulectomy (n=1; 5.6%). Patients' postoperative reviews and radiographs revealed good facial profile and continued bone stability up to 1 year following NVIBG. Conclusion: NVIBGs provide an acceptable alternative to vascularized bone grafts, genetically engineered bone, and distraction osteogenesis for mandibular reconstruction in resource-limited centers.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2012

Purpose: To report the clinical and radiological result of the vascularized fibular epiphyseal transplantation in the treatment of humeral head deformity by septic arthritis Material & Methods: A 3 years old male who has humeral head deformity and bone defect by septic arthritis on neonatal period. We replaced bone defect as vascularized fibular epiphyseal transplantation and lengthened humerus shaft for humerus discrepancy. We followed it up for 14 years. Result: We saw the callus formation 2 months after surgery and obtained bone union, one year after surgery. The transplanted fibular bone got hypertrophy. We could check full range of motion on lt. shoulder and The bone deformity was not worsened and The graft did not displaced on last follow up. Conclusion: Humeral head reconstruction by vascularized fibular epiphyseal transplantation showed good clinical outcome.