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Femoral reconstruction by vascularized bone transfer
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic/Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN.
Microsurgery
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Microvascular bone transfer effectively reconstructs femoral defects and nonunions. This surgical technique offers a high success rate for challenging bone reconstructions, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Bone Healing
Background:
- Extensive femoral defects and recalcitrant nonunions present significant reconstructive challenges.
- Causes include trauma, osteomyelitis debridement, tumor resection, and postirradiation osteonecrosis.
- Microvascular bone transfer is a complex reconstructive option.
Observation:
- Thirty-five patients with challenging femoral defects/nonunions underwent microvascular bone transfer.
- Follow-up exceeded 12 months.
- Primary healing occurred in 69% of cases, with 83% achieving union after secondary surgery.
Findings:
- Ultimately, 80% of patients achieved full healing.
- One patient required amputation due to late graft fracture with nonunion.
- Vascularized bone transfer demonstrated significant success in complex femoral reconstructions.
Implications:
- Microvascular bone transfer is a viable and recommended option for difficult femoral nonunions.
- This technique shows promise for improving union rates in complex orthopedic cases.
- Further research can explore optimizing outcomes for challenging bone defect reconstructions.