Reconstruction of a tibial defect with microvascular transfer of a previously fractured fibula

A 43-year-old man sustained severe injuries to his lower limbs with extensi ve soft-tissue damage and bilateral tibial-fibular fractures. Acutely, the patient underwent external fixation and a free latissimus dorsi flap for so ft-tissue coverage of the left leg. However, the tibia had a nonviable butt erfly fragment that left a 7-cm defect after debridement, Subsequently, the contralateral fractured fibula was used as a bridging vascularized graft f or this tibial defect. The transfer of a fibula containing the zone of inju ry from a previous high-energy fracture has not been reported, This case de monstrates the successful microvascular transfer of a previously fractured fibula for the repair of a contralateral tibial bony defect.