MICROVASCULARIZED FREE FIBULAR GRAFTS FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF SKELETAL DEFECTS AFTER TUMOR RESECTION

A microvascularized free fibular graft was used to reconstruct a skele tal defect after tumor reconstruction in 13 consecutive patients. The patients were evaluated at an average follow-up of 53 months (range, 3 0-71). The status of each graft was evaluated for time to union, hyper trophy, functional evaluation, and complications. The average time to union was 6.5 months, and significant graft hypertrophy occurred in ei ght of 13 patients. Complications occurred in seven patients. Two of t he 13 patients required removal of the microvascularized graft. Functi onal evaluation according the the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society yielde d an average score of 90 (range, 83-97). The results were rated good o r excellent in 11 of 13 patients, and two were rated failures. The mic rovascularized fibular graft provides an attractive option for the rec onstruction of skeletal defects after tumor resection. The results of this procedure are especially good in skeletally immature patients.