title: Free vascularised fibular grafting in the treatment of large skeletal defects due to osteomyelitis.
abstract: Treatment of skeletal defects secondary to osteomyelitis is a challenging problem. The purpose of this study was to present our experience of the use of free vascularised fibular grafts to treat such defects. Ten patients with a mean age of 31 years (range 16-50 years) and a skeletal defect with a mean length of 9.5 cm (range 6-17 cm) were managed with a protocol which included radical debridement of the lesion and a vascularised fibular graft. The mean follow-up time was 26 months. Union of the graft occurred in all patients, at a mean of 4.5 months. No recurrence of osteomyelitis was observed. The mean time to full weight bearing was ten months, and all patients were pain-free and able to walk without supportive devices. A free vascularised fibular graft is a viable option for the management of large skeletal defects resulting from osteomyelitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dongxu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jiagen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Xiangguo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shengbao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Bingfang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016348:Osseointegration; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult