Reconstruction of tibia by ipsilateral vascularized fibula and allograft. 12 cases with malignant bone tumors

We treated 12 patients with a primary sarcoma of the tibia by resection and centralization of the ipsilateral vascularized fibula with preserved vascularization. The reconstruction was combined with an allograft. The median bone defect after tumor resection was 14 (8-24) cm. The anastomosis between the allograft and the recipient bone was stabilized by a plate or screws or Kirschner-wires. To reconstruct the soft tissues, 8 patients underwent a gastrocnemius plasty and 2 patients a free vascularized flap of the latissimus dorsi muscle. The mean follow-up period was 2.5 (2-3.5) years. 2 years after implantation, union > or = 75% of the anastomosis area was noted in 10 patients. A deformity or fracture of the distal junction occurred in 7 patients with a screw or Kirschner-wire fixation. Neither deformity nor fracture developed in the 5 patients with plate-fixation.