title: Reconstruction of large defects of the long bones with free vascularized bone grafts: functional results after minimum 5-year follow-up.
abstract: This study evaluated the clinical and radiographic results of 44 patients (26 men and 18 women) who underwent reconstruction of large defects of the long bones with free vascularized bone grafts. Mean patient age was 29+/-15 years and mean follow-up was 8.6+/-2.1 years. Mean Enneking index was 78.6% (95% confidence interval, 73.8-83.4). No differences were noted for different types of graft, etiologies, or anatomic locations. Regression analysis revealed no association between defect size and functional results. Sixteen patients developed 29 complications. All but 1 patient showed full incorporation of the graft. These results confirm the value of vascularized grafts for bridging large bone defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand, Replantation, and Microsurgery, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin Trauma Center, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bauwens
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stengel
authors.forename: Jens-Ingmar
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Höpfner
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenschenk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome