title: Reconstruction of massive femur defect with free vascularized fibula graft following tumor resection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reconstruction of femur defects following tumor resection remains a surgical challenge. The clinical outcome of free vascularized fibula graft (FVFG) reconstruction for massive femur defects of more than 10 cm that were secondary to skeletal tumor resection is reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with a mean of 3.3 years follow-up were reviewed. Five patients received double or folded vascularized fibula grafts and 1 received a single graft. The mean bony defect of the femur was 13 cm and the mean length of grafted fibula was 15 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients were free of disease at final follow-up; 10 out of 11 (91%) FVFGSs were transferred successfully. Five patients had a successful outcome with bony union. No stress fractures had occurred up until the final follow-up. All patients except one could walk without a brace after a mean of 9 months post-operatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Double or folded FVFG is a reliable reconstructive procedure for massive femur defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. muramatu@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ihara
authors.forename: Kazuteru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shigetomi
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taguchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome