title: Reconstruction of a tibial defect with microvascular transfer of a previously fractured fibula.
abstract: A 43-year-old man sustained severe injuries to his lower limbs with extensive soft-tissue damage and bilateral tibial-fibular fractures. Acutely, the patient underwent external fixation and a free latissimus dorsi flap for soft-tissue coverage of the left leg. However, the tibia had a nonviable butterfly fragment that left a 7-cm defect after debridement. Subsequently, the contralateral fractured fibula was used as a bridging vascularized graft for this tibial defect. The transfer of a fibula containing the zone of injury from a previous high-energy fracture has not been reported. This case demonstrates the successful microvascular transfer of a previously fractured fibula for the repair of a contralateral tibial bony defect.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kasabian
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Longaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D016267:External Fixators; D005360:Fibula / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000293:injuries / Q000637:transplantation*; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000628:therapy; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*