title: Traumatic medial malleolar fracture of a fibula flap donor leg.
abstract: A 50-year-old male presented with a T4 N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and alveolus. Treatment included a partial mandibulectomy with a free osteocutaneous fibula flap reconstruction. He made a good postoperative recovery and was given adjuvant radiotherapy. No problems were reported with the donor site or ankle. Five months after harvesting the flap the patient sustained a fracture of the medial malleolus having jumped over a ditch playing golf. This was treated successfully with a below knee plaster of Paris cast. The interosseous membrane was not ruptured in the accident indicating that the distal fibula left in situ was adequate to maintain the integrity of the mortice. A degree of ankle instability may be present after fibula flap harvest which is only revealed by athletic activity.
authors.affiliation: Leicester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hollows
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hayter
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects