Seven cases with bone tumor in upper limb were reported. Five cases were treated by using free vascularized fibular graft, 2 cases by using fusion between humorus and clavicle. A follow-up study of six patients showed that the graft bone was united within 3 months in 5 cases, in 6 months in one case. Partial function of upper limb in 6 patients have been restored.
Objective To summarize the function of fibula in stability of ankle joints.Methods Recent original articles were extensively reviewed, which were related to the physiological function and biomechanical properties of fibula, the influence of fibular fracture on stability of ankle joints and mechanism of osteoarthritis of ankle joints. Results The fibula had the function of weightbearing; and it was generally agreed that discontinued fibula could lead to intra articular disorder of ankle joint in children; but there were various viewpoints regarding the influence of fibular fracture on the ankle joint in adults. Conclusion Fibula may play an important role in stability of ankle joint.
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.
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.
To provide anatomical evidences for the blood supply compound flap based on fibular head to rebuild internal malleolus. Methods The morphology of vessels and bones in donor site and in recipient site was observed. The materials for the study were l isted as follows: ① Forty desiccative adult tibias (20 left and 20 right respectively) were used to measure the basilar width, middle thickness, anterior length, posterior length and introversion angle of internal malleolus; ② Forty desiccative adult fibulas (20 left and 20 right respectively) were used to measure the middle width and thickness, as well as the extraversion angle of articular surface of fibular head; ③ Thirty adult lower l imb specimens which perfused with red rubber were used to observe the blood supply relationships between the anterior tibial recurrent vessels and fibular head, and internal anterior malleolar vessels inside recipient site. Results The internal malleolus had a basilar width of (2.6 ± 0.2) cm, a middle thickness of (1.3 ± 0.2) cm, an anterior length of (1.4 ± 1.9) cm and a posterior length of (0.6 ± 0.1) cm. Its articular facet was half-moon. Its introversion angle was (11.89 ± 3.60)°. The fibular head had a middle thickness of (1.8 ± 0.6) cm, a middle width of (2.7 ± 0.4) cm. Its articular facet was toroid, superficial and cavate in shape, and exposed inwardsly and upwardsly, and had a extraversion angel of (39.2 ± 1.3)°. The anterior tibial recurrent artery directly began from anterior tibial artery, accounting for 93.3%. Its initiation point was (4.5 ± 0.7) cm inferior to apex of fibular head. Its main trunk ran through the deep surface of anterior tibial muscle, and ran forwards, outwards and upwards with sticking to the lateral surface of proximal tibia. Its main trunk had a length of (0.5 ±0.2) cm and a outer diameter of (2.0 ± 0.4) mm. Its accompanying veins, which had outer diameters of (2.1 ± 0.5) mm and (2.6 ± 0.4) mm, entry into anterior tibial vein. It constantly gave 1-2 fibular head branches which had a outer diameter of (1.7 ± 1.3) mm at (1.0 ± 0.4) cm from the initiation point. The internal anterior malleolar artery which began from anterior tibial artery or dorsal pedal artery had a outer diameter of (1.6 ± 0.4) mm. Its accompanying veins had outer diameters of (1.3 ± 0.5) mm and (1.1 ± 0.4) mm. Conclusion The blood supply compound flap based on fibular head had a possibil ity to rebuild internal malleolus. Its articular facet was characterized as the important anatomical basis to rebuild internal malleolus.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of posterior lateral perforator flap in lower limb combined with free fibula for maxillary tissue defect repair. Methods Between December 2018 and December 2023, 16 patients with the maxillary malignant tumors were admitted. There were 10 males and 6 females, with an average age of 64.3 years (range, 54-75 years). There were 7 cases of maxillary gingival cancer, 5 cases of hard palate cancer, and 4 cases of maxillary sinus cancer. According to the 2017 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM stage, there were 8 cases of stage Ⅲ, 6 cases of stage Ⅳa, and 2 cases of stage Ⅳb. After resection of the lesion, the remaining maxillary defects were classified into class Ⅱa in 3 cases, class Ⅱb in 5 cases, and class Ⅲb in 8 cases according to Brown’s classification. The size of soft tissue defects ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 8 cm×6 cm. The posterior lateral perforator flap in lower limb in size of 5 cm×4 cm-9 cm×7 cm were harvested to repair soft tissue defects, and free fibula in length of 6-11 cm were used to repair bone defects. The donor sites of the lower limb were sutured directly (6 cases) or repaired with free skin grafting (10 cases). Six patients with positive lymph node pathology were treated with radiotherapy after operation. At 6 and 12 months after operation, the self-assessment was performed by the University of Washington Quality of Survival Questionnaire Form (QUW-4) in five dimensions (facial appearance, swallowing function, chewing function, speech function, and mouth opening), and swallowing function was evaluated by using the Kubota water swallowing test. Results Postoperative pathological examination showed that all patients were squamous cell carcinoma. One patient who was treated with radiotherapy developed osteomyelitis and 1 patient developed venous crisis of skin flap. The rest of the flaps and all skin grafts survived, and the wounds healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 1-5 years (mean, 2.8 years). Two patients died of local recurrence of the tumor at the 4th and 5th years after operation, respectively. Except for the chewing function score and total score at 6 months after operation, which showed significant differences compared to preoperative scores (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in other QUW-4 scale scores between different time points (P>0.05). The patients’ swallowing function evaluated by Kubota water swallowing test reached normal in 4 cases, suspicious in 9 cases, and abnormal in 3 cases at 6 months after operation, and 10, 6, and 0 cases at 12 months after operation, respectively. The swallowing function at 12 months was significantly better than that at 6 months (Z=–2.382, P=0.017). Conclusion The posterior lateral perforator flap in the lower limb combined with free fibula to repair maxillary tissue defects can repair soft and hard tissue defects at the same time, so that the patient’s facial appearance, swallowing function, chewing function, speech function, and mouth opening are satisfactorily restored and the mid-term effectiveness is good.
