Microvascular osteocutaneous groin flap in the treatment of an ununited tibial fracture with chronic osteitis. A case report.
A 37-year-old man with an ununited tibial fracture combined with a significant skin defect underwent a microvascular transfer of an island osteocutaneous flap of groin skin and iliac crest bone. The bone component of the flap was shown to be a living transplant by the observation of brisk cancellous bone bleeding when the flap was isolated on its vascular stalk; by rapid fracture healing (weight-bearing 15 weeks postoperatively); and sequential bone scan investigations. Various aspects of the flap blood supply, particularly to bone, are discussed, and reference is made to the use of a more suitable vessel system.
D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D010000:Osteitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013977:Tibia / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing