title: Ankle and pantalar arthrodeses using vascularized fibular grafts.
abstract: From 1989 to 1998 ankle and pantalar arthrodeses using vascularized fibular grafts were performed for seven patients. The indications for surgery were chronic nonunion following fracture of the distal tibia in four patients, rheumatoid arthritis in two, and talus necrosis in one. The ankle joint was fused in the two patients with a pilon fracture, and in the other five patients, both the ankle and subtalar joints were fused. In one patient, additional bone grafting was required for delayed union. In the other six patients, the mean period required to obtain radiographic bone union was 6 months (range, 4-9 months). The time until the patients could walk without braces ranged from 6 to 20 months (mean, 12.3 months). Local infection was not encountered in any patients. This procedure represents a viable option for patients in whom a standard, less complicated arthrodesis cannot be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan. hyajima@naramed-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yajima
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobata
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawate
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takakura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013380:Subtalar Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013977:Tibia / Q000293:injuries