Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of fibula flap grafts on the repair of the extremities with traumatic compound tissue defects. Methods In 12 cases, the fibula flap grafts were employed to restore the extremities with traumatic compound tissue defects. Of the 12 patients, 9 were males, 3 were females; their ages ranged from 12 to 45. There were 2 cases of tibia defect combined with fibula fracture, 2 cases of tibia defect, 2 cases of radius defect, 3 cases of ulna defect, 1 case of calcaneus defect,and 2 cases of firstmetatarsus defect. The bone defect length ranged from 4.2 to 10.6 cm, 7.8 cm in average.The skin defect area ranged from 10.0 cm×4.5 cm to 27.0 cm×15.0 cm. The free transplantation of fibular flaps were used in 9 cases, the lapse operation were used in 2 cases, retrograde shift were used in 1 case. Results Postoperational vein crisis and commonperoneal nerve traction injury were observed in category mentioned above respectively. All the 12 fibula flaps survived after proper treatments such as removalof great saphenous vein. Follow-ups were done for 6 to 24 months. Both the transferred fibula and the recipient broken end reflected bones were healed. Four patients underwent the second-phase reconstruction operation oftendon moving power. One wrist and 1 ankle underwent arthrodesis in 3 to 6 months.All the effects were satisfactory. Conclusion The fibula flap grafts provide arelatively better alternative to repair the extremities with long bone compoundtissue defects. In addition, the sensory function reconstruction of fibula flaps should be given full attention.
Objective To summary the clinical application of free fibular composite flaps in repair of mandibular defect. Methods Fiftyeight cases of mandibular reconstruction using free fibular flaps, from June 1999 to November 2000, were reviewed, among which there were 37 cases of male and 21 cases of female, aged from 12 to 65 years old. All of the relevant data of the operation, such as the cause of the defect, design of the flaps, the blood vessels of the recipientand the complications, were included and analyzed. Results The fibular flap was 10.9 cm (4-21 cm) averagely in length and was harvested for 2.1 times (1-4 times); the average size of the skin paddle was 5.88 cm×3.13 cm. Of 58 flaps, therewere 56 survived; the overall complication rate was 24.1%.Conclusion It’s safe and reliable to use free fibular flap to reconstruct the mandibular defect.