title: Multilevel cervical reconstruction with no remaining hardware: the potential of a vascularised fibular strut graft.
abstract: We present a case of a cervical chordoma extending from C3 to C6, treated by surgical resection followed by reconstruction in two stages with a vascularised fibular strut graft anteriorly and fibular allografts posteriorly. The goal was to achieve a stable reconstruction without any metal hardware to allow for increased accuracy of the adjuvant radiotherapy. The advantages of a vascularised fibula flap to realise this are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Esthetic Surgery, UZ Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vrints
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Depreitere
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vranckx
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002817:Chordoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional