title: Free non-vascularized fibular strut bone graft for treatment of post-traumatic lower extremity large bone loss.
abstract: Post-traumatic large bone defects of more than 4 cm occur sometimes in open lower extremity fractures. Management of this kind trauma can be a challenge to orthopedic surgeons. We have managed this kind of bone defect by the use of free non-vascularized fibular strut bone grafts (FNVFG) harvested subperiosteally and held by screw fixation of the strut ends to the ends of the bone defect. Ten patients, eight males and two females, with a mean age of 44 years (range 26-76 years) underwent this procedure. The length of defect was 7.0 cm on average (ranging from 4 to 8 cm). Ten grafts (100%) united at both ends within an average of 6 months (range 5-9 months). Nine patients walked independently, and one patient walked with a stick. FNVFG is a simple procedure and a reliable method to bridge huge bone loss due to open fractures of lower extremities successfully in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, 386 Ta-Chung 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 813, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kai-Cheng
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yih-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Tarng
authors.forename: Chien-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Jenn-Huei
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Renn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005360:Fibula / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods