FREE VASCULARIZED BONE TRANSPLANTATION IN THE EXTREMITIES

There is a growing trend today which calls for reconstructing the loss of bigger bone parts in the area of extremities in a suitable manner. The microvascular bone transplantation for bridging bone defects is - admist other procedures - a distinct enrichment to preserve the extre mities. This method of transplantation has the capability of surviving within a weakened transplant bed. Because of this capability one inev itably wants to know the criteria which determine the biological behav iour of the transplants. Furthermore, it is essential to know how this criteria can be best managed, considering the different indications a nd locations. The bone healing and bone hypertrophy of 81 patients who received vascularised bone transplantations have been examined with r espect to different parameters. As the positive capacities of the vita l transplants are almost exclusively dependent on the actual supply wi th blood, angiography have been undertaken during three months after s urgery. 71 patients with a patent anastomosis after surgery have been evaluated. Differences in bone healing of the vascularised transplants have been observed in regard to the following parameter: - The tumor group showed a better rate of bone healing than those patients with tr auma and congenital tibiapseudarthrosis. - The bone healing results of the group of younger patients were better than those of the group of older patients. Moreover the transplants without a history of infectio n were better compared with transplants with a history of infection. C lear differences of the fibula hypertrophy behaviour have been observe d with respect to the following parameters: upper extremities < lower extremities, thigh < lower leg, longer transplants < shorter transplan ts, group of older patients (35-60 years) < group of younger patients (1-18 years), plates < screws.