Objective To evaluate the surgical technique, clinical results, and the complications of modified free vascularized fibular grafting for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Methods From October 2000 to August 2004, 124 patients (139 hips) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head were treated with modified free vascularized fibular grafting. There were 83 males(93 hips) and 41 females (46 hips), with a mean age of 36.4 years(16.57). The disease was caused by trauma in 49 cases(54 hips), use of steroids in 29 cases (32 hips), consumption of alcohol in 19 cases (21 hips) and idiopathic condition in 27 cases (32 hips). Of 139 hips, 50 were classified as stage Ⅱ; 71 as stage Ⅲ, 18 as stage Ⅳ according to Steinberg system; theHarris hip scores were 79.3, 69.3 and 58.4, respectively. At the operation, modified technique of the fibular osteotomy was adopted. A front-hip operative approach was designed and a modified technique of removing the necrotic bone in femoral head was applied. During operation, the duration of operation, the bleeding volume, and the length of incisions were recorded. The follow-up items included the results of X-ray examination, the Harris score of the hip, and the evaluation of the complications. Results The duration of the fibular osteotomy was 10 to 30 min(15 min on average). The duration of the total operation was 80 to 120 min (90 min on average). The length of incision at the hip was 6 to 12 cm (8 cm on average). The bleeding volume was 100 to 300 ml(200 ml onaverage). The average hospitalization days was 7 days. After operation, Harris hip scores in most cases were improved. According to postoperative X-ray, 62 hips (79.5%) were improved to different extents and 14 hips (17.9%) had no significant changes. Deterioration occurred in 2 hips (2.6%). Conclusion The modified free vascularized fibular grafting has lots of virtues, such asless bleeding volume, more clear anatomic structure, more convenience for operation, less damage, less complications, and better results of function recovery.It is an effective method for treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
There were several methods, such as free single and folded fibulae autograft, composed tissue autograft, however, it is still very difficult to repair long segment bone defect. In December 1995, we used free juxtaposed bilateral fibulae autograft to repair an 8 cm of femoral bone defect in a 4 years old child in success. The key procedure is to strip a portion of the neighboring periosteal sleeve of juxtaposed fibulae to make bare of the opposite sides of the bone shafts, suture the opposite periosteal sleeves, keep the nutrient arteries, and reconstruct the blood circulation of both fibular by anastomosis of the distal ends of one fibular artery and vein to the proximal ends of the other fibular artery and vein, and anastomosis of the proximal ends of the fibular artery and vein to lateral circumflex artery and vein. After 22 months follow up, the two shafts of juxtaposed fibulae fused into one new bone shaft. The diameter of the new bone shaft was nearly the same as the diameter of the femur. There was only one medullary cavity, and it connected to the medullary cavity of femur. This method also cold be used to repair other long segment bone defect.
Objective To investigate a new operative method to reconstruct wrist joint for treating the defect of the distal radius after excision of tumor.Methods From October 1999 to December 2001, 3 cases of giant cell tumor in the distal radius were resected and the wrist joint was reconstructed by transplanting the fibular head pedicled with the lateral inferior genicular artery. ResultsAfter followed up for 6 to 18 months, all patients achieved the bony healing within 4 months without tumor relapse and had good function of the wrist joint. Conclusion This operation is simple and reliable. The fibularhead can be cut according to the tumor size of the radius.
Objective To investigate the way to reconstruct bone scaffold afterremoval of giant benign bone tumor in extremities of children. Methods From June 1995 to October 2000, 6 cases of benign bone tumor were treated, aged 614 years. Of 6 cases, there were 4 cases of fibrous hyperplasia of bone, 1 case of aneurysmal bone cyst and 1 case of bone cyst; these tumors were located in humerus (2 cases), in radius (1 case), in femur (2 cases) and in tibia(1 case), respectively. All patients were given excision of subperiosteal affected bone fragment, autograft of subperiosteal free fibula(4-14 cm in length) and continuous suture of in situ periosteum; only in 2 cases, humerus was fixed with single Kirschner wire and external fixation of plaster. Results After followed up 18-78 months, all patients achieved bony union without tumor relapse. Fibula defect was repaired , and the function of ankle joint returned normal. ConclusionAutograft of subperiosteal free fibula is an optimal method to reconstruct bone scaffold after excision of giant benign bone tumor in extremities of children.
Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of fibula flap grafts on the repair of the extremities with traumatic compound tissue defects. Methods In 12 cases, the fibula flap grafts were employed to restore the extremities with traumatic compound tissue defects. Of the 12 patients, 9 were males, 3 were females; their ages ranged from 12 to 45. There were 2 cases of tibia defect combined with fibula fracture, 2 cases of tibia defect, 2 cases of radius defect, 3 cases of ulna defect, 1 case of calcaneus defect,and 2 cases of firstmetatarsus defect. The bone defect length ranged from 4.2 to 10.6 cm, 7.8 cm in average.The skin defect area ranged from 10.0 cm×4.5 cm to 27.0 cm×15.0 cm. The free transplantation of fibular flaps were used in 9 cases, the lapse operation were used in 2 cases, retrograde shift were used in 1 case. Results Postoperational vein crisis and commonperoneal nerve traction injury were observed in category mentioned above respectively. All the 12 fibula flaps survived after proper treatments such as removalof great saphenous vein. Follow-ups were done for 6 to 24 months. Both the transferred fibula and the recipient broken end reflected bones were healed. Four patients underwent the second-phase reconstruction operation oftendon moving power. One wrist and 1 ankle underwent arthrodesis in 3 to 6 months.All the effects were satisfactory. Conclusion The fibula flap grafts provide arelatively better alternative to repair the extremities with long bone compoundtissue defects. In addition, the sensory function reconstruction of fibula flaps should be given full attention.
OBJECTIVE To investigate a good method for repairing the long bone defect of tibia combined with soft tissue defect. METHODS From 1988-1998, sixteen patients with long bone defect of tibia were admitted. There were 12 males, 4 females and aged from 16 to 45 years. The length of tibia defect ranged from 7 cm to 12 cm, the area of soft tissue defect ranged from 5 cm x 3 cm to 12 cm x 6 cm. Free fibula grafting was adopted in repairing. During operation, the two ends of fibular artery were anastomosised with the anterior tibial artery of the recipient, and the composited fibular flap were transplanted. RESULTS All grafted fibula unioned and the flap survived completely. Followed up for 6 to 111 months, 14 patients acquired the normal function while the other 2 patients received arthrodesis of the tibial-talus joint. In all the 16 patients, the unstable ankle joint could not be observed. CONCLUSION The modified method is characterized by the clear anatomy, the less blood loss and the reduced operation time. Meanwhile, the blood supply of the grafted fibula can be monitored.
In the study of repair of massive bone defect with free vascularized fibula graft, 13 cases were reported, in which traumatic defect in 7 cases, segmental resection of bone from tumors in 5 cases and osteomylitis in 1 cases. They all were treated successfully with vascularized fibular graft. After a follow-up of 6 months to 7 year, bone healing was observed with satisfactory and rehabilitation of functions. In one case, fatigued fracture occured twice due to early walking. It was concluded that free vascularized fibular graft was very helpful in the repair of massive bone defect, but prolonged external fixation after operation might be important to prevent fractur of grafted bone.
The treatmen t of the bone defect of the distal part of the radiu s included repair of the bone defect and resto rat ion of the funct ion of the w rist jo in t. Since 1979, th ree operat ive methods w ere u sed to t reat 13 cases, and they w ere graf t ing of the vascu larized f ibu la by anastom rsis f ibu lar vessels, graf t ing of upper part of f ibu lar w ith lateral inferio rgen icu lar artery and graf t ing vascu larized scapu la f lap. Follow up had been carried ou t from1 to 10 years. The resu lt w as sat isfacto ry. The discu ssion included the repair of the defect of the m iddle o r distal part of the radiu s, the operat ive methods, main at ten t ion s and indications. It was considered that it shou ld be based on the length of bone defect wh ile the operative method was considered.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect of surgical treatment of Pilon fractures accompanied with fibula fractures with the improved double operative approaches. MethodsBetween January 2012 and June 2015, 19 patients with closed Pilon fractures accompanied with fibula fractures (Rüedi-Allgöwer type Ⅲ) underwent open reduction and internal fixation with improved anterior-median incision and posterior-lateral incision. There were 13 males and 6 females, aged 35 years on average (range, 23-68 years). Injury was caused by traffic accident in 11 cases, falling from height in 7 cases, and crash injury of heavy object in 1 case. According to AO/OTA classification, there were 4 cases of type C2, and 15 cases of type C3. According to Tscherne-Gotzen classification of soft tissue defect, 6 cases were rated as grade 1 and 13 cases as grade 2. The interval of injury and operation was 6-18 days (mean, 10.3 days). After operation, reduction of Pilon fracture was evaluated by the Burwell-Charnley radiological evaluation criteria, and the ankle joint function was evaluated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. ResultsThe operation time was 1.8-4.6 hours (mean, 2.4 hours); the intraoperative blood loss was 200-500 mL (mean, 310 mL). All the 19 patients were followed up for 13.7 months on average (range, 12-18 months). The fracture healing time was 3.6 months on average (range, 2.5-8.0 months). Postoperative complications included anterior-median incision necrosis in 2 cases, traumatic arthritis in 2 cases, and ankle instability in 1 case. According to Burwell-Charnley radiological evaluation criteria, anatomical reduction was obtained in 15 cases and satisfactory reduction in 4 cases. According to AOFAS score, the excellent and good rate was 84.2% (excellent in 11 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 3 cases). ConclusionThe improved anterior-median incision combined with posterior-lateral incision is a safe and effective method to treat complex Pilon fractures accompanied with fibula fractures, which has the advantages of simple operation, adequate exposure and minimal invasion.
Objective To compare the long-term results of vascularised fibulargraft and simple autologous fibular graft for reconstruction of wrist after distal bone tumor resection.Methods From January 1979 to September2002, 15 patients with wrist defects due to distal bone tumor resection were treated with vascularised fibular graft or simple autologous fibular graft and followed up 1 year. The results were graded with Enneking’s system and evaluated radiographicallyaccording to the “International Symposium on Limb Salvage”. The grade system included limb function, radiological examination and the function of ankle. Results The limb function of 8 patients with vascularised fibular graft restored to 80% of normal function and the bone union was achieved within 6 months. The limbfunction of 6 patients with simple autologous fibular graft restored to 67% of normal function. The bony union was achieved within 6 months in 4 cases with thebone graft less than 5 cm and in the 13th and 16th months in 2 cases with the bone graft more than 12 cm. Conclusion It is suitable to use the headof fibular boneas a substitute for the distal radius. The healing of vascularised fibular graft is very quick and haven’t the bone resorption. So in the procedure for reconstruction and limb salvage after bone tumor resection of distal radius, the free vascularised fibular graft with fibular head is an ideal substitute.