• 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.42-49
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• 2005

Between June 1989 and may 2004 Ipsilateral vascularized fibular transposition was performed on nine patients with segmental tibial defects combined with infection following trauma. Ipsilateral vascularized fibular graft was performed on two or three stage according to the degree of infection. Initially free vascular pedicled graft was done followed by ipsilateral vascularized fibular graft. Type of free flap used is scapular free flap 3 cases, latissimus dorsi free flap 5 cases and dorsalis pedis flap 1 cases. The patients were followed for an average of 3.4 years. the average time to union was 6.7 months, and in all patients the graft healed in spite of complication. Complication was free flap venous thrombosis in 1 cases, persistent infection in 1 cases, delayed bony union at the distal end of fibular graft in 2 cases. The results showed that more faster bony union was seen in which cases firmly internally fixated and more faster hypertrophy of graft in which cases was permitted to ambulate on early weight bearing and more faster healing in which cases debrided more meticulously. Reconstruction of tibia defect with free flap followed by Ipsilateral fibular transposition is a useful and safe method to avoid the potential risk of infection for patients with tibial large bone defect and soft tissue defect associated with infection.

• 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.

• 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.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.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2000

Nonunion and avascular necrosis are well-recognized complications of severe ankle injury especially aftrer talar neck fracture. The treatment of avascular necrosis is controversial and methods of treatment are limited. Many modalities have been introduced for the treatment of avascular necrosis of talus. The prolonged non-weight bearing for 2~3 years is not practical but also is occasionally complicated by late segmental collapse. Operative treatment includes tibiotalar arthrodesis and talectomy with tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis, but arthrodesis in patients with talar avascular necrosis is technically demanding and cause stiff, immobile foot and relatively high failure rate was reported. It is desirable to preserve their original joint if possible. Vascularized fibular grafting has been reported as a joint preserving treatment option for osteonecrosis of the hip but has not been described for the ankle. The authors applied free vascularized fibular grafts for 3 cases of avascular necrosis of talus. We observed evidences of revascularization of necrotic talar body and progression of fracture healing and obtained satisfactory results at mean 8 months of follow-up. Vascularized fibular grafting is one of the better alternatives for treating avascular necrosis of talus. It is expected that vascularized fibular grafting can prevent the necrotic talar dome from progressing to collapse and promote directly restored vascularization and new bone formation.

• 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.3 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1994

It is difficult to obtain a satisfactory bony union of large bone defect secondary to trauma, tumor resection, congenital pseudarthrosis of tibia and bony metaplasia following infection with conventional methods. Conventional nonvascularized autologous bone graft do not provide adequate large amounts of donor bone and usually undergo necrosis or nonunion due to lack of vascular nutrition. Currently, advanced in microsurgery have made it possible to provide a continuing circulation of blood in bone grafts so as to ensure viability. With the nutrient blood supply preserved, healing of the graft to the recipient bone is facilitated without the usual replacement of the graft by creeping substitution. Thus, the grafted bone is achieved more rapid stabilization without sacrificing viability. We reviewed 11 cases of vascularized fibular grafts which were performed from December 1982 to January 1993 and the following results were obtained: 1. Large bone defects with chronic osteomyelitis secondary to trauma were could be successfully treated by the vascularized fibular transfer. 2. In our experience, the vascularized fibular transfer was thought to be one of good methods of treatment for congenital pseudathrosis of tibia. 3. Complete tumor resection was followed by a free vascularized fibular transfer, resulting in good functional improvement, without local recurrence. Long bone defect secondary to bony dysplasia was could be reconstructed by the vascularized fibular transfer. 4. The transferred vascularized fibula had been hypertrophied with bony union during follow-up period and there was no resorption of the grafted fibula.

• 대한미세수술학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.123.1-123.1
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• 1997

• 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.