Cuboid Bone for Distal Radius Reconstruction: An Anatomical Cadaver Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Anatomical studies
• Bone reconstruction techniques

Background:

• The cuboid bone (CB) is a potential source for autologous bone grafts.
• Reconstruction of the distal radius (DR) often requires suitable donor sites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of using the CB as a vascularized bone transfer for DR reconstruction.
• To analyze the anatomical characteristics and vascular supply of the CB flap.

Main Methods:

• Dissection of ten feet from five fresh-frozen cadaver specimens.
• Detailed analysis of the lateral tarsal artery (LTA) pedicle and CB dimensions.
• Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography to confirm vascular perfusion.

Main Results:

• The CB pedicle averaged 68.26 mm in length with a 1.43 mm diameter.
• The CB demonstrated a mean length of 40.81 mm, with harvestable segments averaging 15.05 mm.
• ICG angiography confirmed adequate blood supply to all harvested CB specimens.

Conclusions:

• The cuboid bone exhibits anatomical congruence with the distal radius.
• A consistently long pedicle with reliable perfusion supports its use in DR reconstruction.
• The CB is a promising source for vascularized bone grafts in distal radius reconstruction.