title: The versatility of the free osteocutaneous fibula flap in the reconstruction of extremities after sarcoma resection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An understanding of the biology of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas, knowledge of adjuvant therapies and refinement in techniques of reconstructive surgery have allowed limb-sparing and limb salvage surgery to become a reality in the management of malignant tumors of the extremities. Functional limb salvage following radical resection has become a possibility in many resectable tumors by the use of alloplastic prostheses, homograft or autogenous bone for skeletal reconstitution combined with vascularized soft tissue coverage. Although the free fibula flap has been well described for reconstructions of the mandible and oral cavity, it has not been widely presented as an ideal tool to preserve extremities and to circumvent amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the complex surgical reconstruction in four patients with primary sarcomas of the extremities. The sarcomas (Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma and epitheloid sarcoma) were resected radically and the massive bone and soft tissue defect was replaced by vascularized free fibula transfer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present our experience with versatility of this osteocutaneous flap to allow reconstruction and salvage of extremitity sarcomas. There were no operative or postoperative complication and all the four patients had good limb function. The flap was found to be versatile as it could be used for either upper limb or lower limb and for large defects. The results were better in upper limb than in lower limb.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Free fibular graft was found to be effective for salvaging limb function where a massive bone defect resulted from wide tumor resection in the extremities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Erlangen, Erlangen Germany. Alexander.Bach@chir.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: G Björn
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Raymund E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Horch