Donor site morbidity after harvest of free osteofasciocutaneous fibular flaps with an extended skin island.
Since 1993, a total of 41 free osteofasciocutaneous fibular flaps with an extended skin island (average dimensions, 16.9 cm long [range, 12-22 cm] x 10.7 cm wide [range, -16 cm], or 180.8 cm [range, 112-352 cm ]) have been used in by the authors in various clinical applications. To evaluate donor site morbidity, the 41 patients involved were asked to answer a questionnaire and to present themselves for clinical and radiological examination. The subjective findings reported by these patients, and the examinations, showed that donor site morbidity was moderate. Apart from some occurrence of mild edema and pain, as well as modest motor weakness of the great toe, and deficiency of distal nervous segments, only 7 patients were found to have a slightly positive anterior drawer of the talus (anterior subluxation of the talus), but no instability. In conclusion, donor site morbidity after harvest of osteofasciocutaneous fibular flaps for different clinical indications, where extended skin islands were needed, is moderate.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Technical University Munich, Germany.
Nikolaos A
NA
Papadopulos
Juergen
J
Schaff
Hans
H
Bucher
Reinhard
R
Groener
Max
M
Geishauser
Edgar
E
Biemer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome