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Published on: January 24, 2018
Arthrodesis using pedicled fibular flap after failed infected knee arthroplasty
Objective:
Severe bone loss associated with failed revision total knee arthroplasty is a challenging scenario. The pedicled fibular flap is a method to obtain vascularized bone for use in knee arthrodesis after failure of a total knee arthroplasty, with substantial loss of bone.
Methods:
We report 2 successful knee arthrodeses using this method in patients with infected, failed multiply revised total knee arthroplasties. The failed prosthesis was removed, and the bones were aligned and stabilized. The fibular flap was then harvested, fed through a subcutaneous tunnel, and placed within the medullary canal at the arthrodesis site. The soft tissue was closed over the grafts and flaps.
Results:
Two elderly women presented with pain and drainage from previous total knee arthroplasties after multiple revisions. Arthrodeses were performed as described, and both patients were pain-free with the knee fused at 1 year.
Conclusions:
Thus, pedicled vascularized flaps are a viable alternative in the treatment of failed revision arthroplasty with large segmental bone loss.