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Vascular Fibula

In tumor, cells gets divided and multiplied continuously and results in a large lump of swelling and inflammation. The same can happen with the bone cells. Bone tumor can be treated using Vascular fibula transplantation. There are several anatomical sites that can be used as free donors of vascularized bone graft. The Fibular transfer is the most suitable for large defects in long bones. Fibular grafting that is vascularized offers an effective treatment and allows a better radical cutting off of the pathology devoid of the concern for reconstruction of the resulting huge defect. This leads to a relative low rate of the local recurrence.

The union rate is much higher and the time taken for the union will be shorter, when compared to the traditional bone grafting. If multiple re-operations were done on a patient, then the poor vascular bed will lead to many problems like infections.

Advantage of vascularized fibular transfer

The best advantage of a vascularized fibular transfer is ability to hypertrophy. Hypertrophy is the condition of the overgrowth or the excessive development of an organ or its part. Vascularized free fibula grafts, do offer an effective and efficient means of reconstruction of the defect of segmental bone after the tumor resection.

Materials and Methods

The skin will be raised with deep fascia and the fibular graft will be fixed to the tibia of recipient with 1 to 2 AO screws at the each end of graft and it will be supplemented by using a spanning fixator externally with the pins inserted into tibia below and above the defect of bone. Once the graft survives vascularity and there is no further danger to the blood supply of vascularized fibular graft, external fixator will be removed. Then plaster of Paris will be put above the knee for a period of 8 to twelve weeks. During this time patient will be not allowed to bear any weight and should use crutch for walking.