title: Free fibula flap for humerus segmental reconstruction: report on 13 cases.
abstract: In the period between 1994 and 2004, 13 patients (10 male, 3 female) presenting with post-traumatic defects to the humerus were treated with vascularised fibula graft. Age ranged from 21 to 62 (mean 37) years. Length of the bony defect ranged from 6 to 16 cm. Graft fixation was performed with plates in 12 cases, and in one case only screws were used. All patients were clinically reviewed between 120 days and 14 months after surgery. In one patient the flap was lost and a second free fibula flap was performed to achieve the reconstructive goal. Mean time for segmental bony union was 6 months (range from 3 to 13 months). Vascularised fibula graft allows for a successful humerus reconstruction when traditional techniques provide unsatisfactory results.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Integrato di Emergenza-Urgenza Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatologica Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Largo del Pozzo 71, Modena, Italy. adani.roberto@unimo.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adani
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delcroix
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Innocenti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarallo
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baccarani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome