title: [Application of repairing tibia and soft tissue defect with free fibula combined tissue grafting].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate a good method for repairing the long bone defect of tibia combined with soft tissue defect.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1988-1998, sixteen patients with long bone defect of tibia were admitted. There were 12 males, 4 females and aged from 16 to 45 years. The length of tibia defect ranged from 7 cm to 12 cm, the area of soft tissue defect ranged from 5 cm x 3 cm to 12 cm x 6 cm. Free fibula grafting was adopted in repairing. During operation, the two ends of fibular artery were anastomosised with the anterior tibial artery of the recipient, and the composited fibular flap were transplanted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All grafted fibula unioned and the flap survived completely. Followed up for 6 to 111 months, 14 patients acquired the normal function while the other 2 patients received arthrodesis of the tibial-talus joint. In all the 16 patients, the unstable ankle joint could not be observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified method is characterized by the clear anatomy, the less blood loss and the reduced operation time. Meanwhile, the blood supply of the grafted fibula can be monitored.
authors.affiliation: Center of Orthopedic Surgery, General Hospital of PLA of Lanzhou, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China 730050.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*