title: Harvesting the free fibular graft: A modified approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The conventional technique of free non-vascularized fibular grafting is attended with some amount of morbidity and a long scar. We report a technique with little interference to the surrounding soft tissues to harvest more than one-third of whole length fibula.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty four patients of average age 23.5 years (range 8 to 51 years) having various pathologies like simple bone cysts (n=9), fibrous dysplasias (n=6), giant cell tumors (n=7), fracture non-union (n=10) and aneurysmal bone cysts (n=2) were taken up for the study. The fibula were harvested by two separate incisions, 1 cm each at proximal and distal extent of proposed donor site for taking out of graft after elevating the periosteum circumferentially using a periosteum stripper. Compression bandage and above knee plaster immobilization was applied to reduce the dead space collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean followup is 34 months. The patients were evaluated clinicoradiology. Thirty three patients showed good results. One patient had fair result due to delayed wound healing from hematoma which was treated surgically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The approach of harvesting fibula suggested by author reduces donor site morbidity and is safer than conventional approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, J.N. Roy General Hospital, Burdwan, India.
authors.forename: Amitava Narayan
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: Ananda Kisor
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Debashis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singharoy
authors.forename: Debadyuti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baksi
authors.forename: Chinmoy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nath