title: Use of vascularised free fibula in limb reconstruction (for non-malignant defects).
abstract: The case series was conducted at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from June 2009 to May 2011, and comprised 19 patients in whom free fibula flap was performed for upper and lower limb reconstruction, using SPSS 16. Results showed that flap survival was 100%. One (5.2%) flap was re-explored for venous congestion and was salvaged. One (5.2%) patient of congenital pseudoarthrosis of tibia had a fracture of the fibula and was treated with external fixation. Average follow up was 8 months. Mean union time and full weight-bearing was 6.5 +/- 1.34 months (range 3-8 months) and 9 months, respectively. No recurrence of pseudoathrosis was observed until the last follow up, with only a 1.5 cm length discrepancy in one patient. The results proved that a microvascular free fibular flap heals rapidly, causes early functional recovery and it can be raised as an osteocutaneous flap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hameed
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Rana Hassan Javaid
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Ehtesham-ul-haq
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Rao Saood
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waqas
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Omamah
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Ahsin Masood
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: Ghazanfar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome