title: Late fracture of vascularized fibular grafts.
abstract: Subsequent fractures following the bone union were analyzed in 62 cases of vascularized fibular graft reconstruction. Fifteen cases (24%) of fractures, including four cases of two fractures, were observed. All fractures but one occurred within a year after obtaining bone union. Eighteen fractures occurred in the lower extremity. In the patients with tibial reconstructions, a significantly higher incidence of fractures was demonstrated in cases where there was a large bone defect and an inaccurate alignment of the graft. Proper graft alignment is an important factor in preventing stress fractures. Vascularized fibular grafts should be protected against excessive mechanical stresses during the first year following bony graft union.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasashima
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kutsumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries / Q000637:transplantation*; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors