POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT FOR FREE VASCULA RIZED BONE-GRAFT FOR EXTREMITY PRESERVATION

A report is presented on 4 years of experience with free vascularized 13 bone transplants for extremity preservation and the postoperative m anagement developed in this connection. The succesful results so far w ere achieved not least by virtue of a strict unified postoperative tre atment scheme extending from direct postoperative blood-flow monitorin g through the raising of a skin flap and angiograpic control of anasto mosis patency to immobilization/mobilization and orthotic management. Thus far, 33 patients have been treated with free vascularized bone tr ansplants (20 fibula, 13 iliac crest grafts).