FREE VASCULARIZED FIBULAR STRUT GRAFT FOR ANTERIOR SPINAL-FUSION

A vascularised fibular strut graft was used for anterior spinal fusion in 16 patients with spinal kyphosis, The procedure was abandoned in t hree because of difficulty in establishing a vascular anastomosis and in one because the grafted fibula dislodged two days after operation, One patient died after five days. Of the 11 remaining patients, there were seven males and four females, Their ages at the time of operation averaged 30.9 Sears (12 to 71), The number of vertebrae fused average d 6.7 (5 to 9) and the length of fibula grafted averaged 10.9 cm (6.5 to 18), Average follow-up was 54 months (27 to 84). Bone union occurre d at both ends of the grafted fibula in all 11 patients, with an avera ge time to union of 5.5 months (3 to 8), We did not see a fracture of the grafted fibula. Two patients had postoperative complications; the graft dislodged in one and laryngeal oedema occurred two days after op eration in the other, A vascularised fibular strut graft provides a bi omechanically stable and long-standing support in spinal fusion becaus e the weak phase of creeping substitution does not take place in the g raft.