title: Vascularized periosteal transfer from the medial femoral condyle: is it compulsory to include the cortical bone?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The corticoperiosteal flap from the medial femoral condyle has become the workhorse in the management of recalcitrant nonunions with vascularized periosteum. Inclusion of the outer condylar cortex has been advocated to avoid damaging the osteogenic capacity of the periosteum and is at present an ordinary technical step in the procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of periosteal-only microvascular transfers from the medial femoral condyle associated with bone grafts in the treatment of recalcitrant nonunions. A group of 8 patients with periosteal-only flaps (study group) is compared with a corticoperiosteal control group (13 patients). A statistical analysis is made of the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We had 100% union rate in both the study and control groups. Evaluation of early signs of bone healing by two independent evaluators did not found differences between the groups (4.5 months in the study and 4.9 months in the control group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although not statistically significant because of the small sample size, our study might support the idea that both periosteal and corticoperiosteal flaps from the medial femoral condyle are effective, when associated with a bone graft, in the treatment of recalcitrant nonunions with small gaps. A further analysis of the results suggests, albeit no statistical significant, that structural and nonstructural bone grafts are both effective when associated with a vascularized periosteal or corticoperiosteal transfer from the medial femoral condyle.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery Service, FREMAP Hospital, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. jmrv2020@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Manuel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vegas
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carosini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005269:Femur / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010521:Periosteum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps