Reconstruction of the humerus by soft tissue distraction and vascularized fibula transfer.
We report a case of reconstruction of the humeral shaft by soft tissue lengthening according to the method of Ilizarov, followed by skeletal reconstruction with a vascularized fibular graft. Skeletal union and initiation of functional activity were achieved within 4 months. Lengthening of the soft tissue and the vascular tree by slow distraction did not compromise the subsequent reconstructive microsurgical procedure.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass 02114.
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D000328:Adult; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000379:methods*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery; D016267:External Fixators; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors