title: Descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery as a recipient vessel for vascularized fibular grafts: Clinical case series.
abstract: Vascularized fibular grafts (VFG) are used for the treatment of femoral head avascular necrosis, osteomyelitis, nonunions, and excessive bone defects. Mostly the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) or first or second perforating branch of the profound femoral artery is used for the customary recipient vessel. In this report, an alternative technique of using descending branch of LCFA in VFG surgery and its clinical results are reported. Sixteen patients (13 men and 3 women) underwent VFG surgery between the years 2005 and 2012. Predicted etiologies were: ANFH in 10 hips, traumatic femur neck pseudoarthrosis in 4 hips, tumor in 1 hip, and 1 femur shaft defect due to osteomyelitis. Patients' average age at the time of surgery was 29 years (range, 14-43 years). All patients were treated with VFG. All of the grafts survived and none of the patients needed any revision surgery. One had superficial wound infection, one developed peroneal nerve palsy, and one had trochanteric bursitis. The follow-up time was 36 months (range 20-72). It is believed that the descending branch of LCFA is a reliable alternative for anastomosis in VFG surgery.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical Faculty, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkey.
authors: Meric
authors: M
authors: Gokhan
authors: Ali Engin
authors: AE
authors: Ulusal
authors: Aziz
authors: A
authors: Atik
authors: Serdar
authors: S
authors: Sargin
authors: Betul
authors: B
authors: Ulusal
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Sukru Sahin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005269:Femur; D005360:Fibula / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011542:Pseudarthrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult