title: Vascularized fibula grafts for reconstruction of bone defects after resection of bone sarcomas.
abstract: We evaluated the results of limb-sparing surgery and reconstruction of bone defects with vascularized fibula grafts in 8 consecutive patients (mean age at operation 13.6 years (range 4.1-24.2 years), female/male = 6/2) with bone sarcomas (BS) (osteosarcoma/Ewing's sarcoma/chondrosarcoma= 4/3/1) operated on form 2000 to 2006. The bone defects reconstructed were proximal femoral diaphysis and epiphysis (n = 2), humeral diaphysis (n = 2), humeral proximal diaphysis and epiphysis (n = 1), femoral diaphysis (n = 1), ulnar diaphysis (n = 1), and tibial diaphysis (n = 1). One patient with Ewing's sarcoma had an early hip disarticulation, developed multiple metastases, and died 9 months after the operation. The remaining patients (n = 7) are all alive 50 months (range 26-75 months) after surgery. During the follow-up the following major complications were seen: 1-2 fractures (n = 4), pseudarthrosis (n = 2), and hip dislocation (n = 1). Limb-sparing surgery with reconstruction of bone defects using vascularized fibular grafts in BS cases is feasible with acceptable clinical results, but fractures should be expected in many patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Michael Mørk
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Dorrit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hovgaard
authors.forename: Jens Jørgen
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Elberg
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rechnitzer
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daugaard
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muhic