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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Engineered Vascularized Muscle Flap
Published on: January 11, 2016
[Versatility of the microvascular fibular flap in limb reconstruction]
Miguel de la Parra-Márquez1, Oscar Zorola-Tellez1, Silvia Cárdenas-Rodríguez2
1Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad No. 21, Departamento de Cirugía Plástica y Reconstructiva, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.
Background:
The structural characteristics of the fibula, strength, shape, length and limited donor site morbidity make it more suitable for reconstructing long bone defects larger than 6cm in the limbs.
Material And Methods:
A descriptive study was conducted using a non-probabilistic sample of consecutive cases undergoing on limb reconstruction with free fibular flap in the period from January 2010 to January 2015 in the Mexican Institute of Social Security No. 21, Monterrey Nuevo Leon.
Results:
The mean age of the ten cases included was 25 years, with the most common diagnosis being trauma in 4 patients, osteosarcoma in 2, followed by one congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia, one non-union fracture, and one gunshot wounds, respectively. The most common location was tibia, followed by humerus, radius, ulna and femur.
Conclusions:
This study has shown that the fibular free flap can be an excellent option for management of long bone defects, regardless of cause of the injury. One or more skin islands can be added for coverage in exposure of deep tissue and osteosynthesis material, thus preserving the septocutaneous perforators.
