Evaluation of the results of combined free vascularized fibular graft and pasteurized tumor segment for the reconstruction of intercalary femoral defects following tumor resection.

INTRODUCTION

the reconstruction of intercalary femoral defects after tumour resection is challenging. We have evaluated the clinical, functional, and oncological results of using free vascularized fibular graft combined with preserved pasteurized tumour segment.

MATERIALS: this study was retrospective in nature and included 12 patients [eight males and four females]. The mean age was 21.3 years ± 11.3. The diagnoses of the patients were osteosarcoma (Five cases) and Ewing's sarcoma (seven cases). The resection was wide local excision, and the defect was reconstructed using combined free vascularized fibular graft and pasteurized tumour segment.

RESULTS

the mean time to union was 7.1 ± 1.9 months while the mean time to full weight bearing was 12 ± 1.8 months. The mean size of skeletal defect was 17.7 cm ± 1.92. The mean duration of surgery was 12.1 h ± 1.88. Nonunion occurred in four cases, stress fractures occurred in two cases and metal failure occurred in one case.

CONCLUSION

the combined technique of using free vascularized fibular graft and pasteurized tumour segment for intercalary femoral defects following tumour resection is a valuable technique with accepted complications and good results.