S. Sharma et al., Reconstruction of a tibial defect with microvascular transfer of a previously fractured fibula, ANN PL SURG, 45(2), 2000, pp. 202-206
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.