Transfer of ipsilateral fibula on vascular pedicle for treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. 2011

Jane S Tan, and James W Roach, and Angela A Wang
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Alpena Regional Medical Center, Alpena, MI, USA. j_tan3@yahoo.com

BACKGROUND Although the use of free vascularized fibula grafts has frequently been reported in the treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia, the use of ipsilateral fibula graft on a vascular pedicle is uncommon. We reviewed the long-term results of this procedure in 11 patients. METHODS The records of 11 patients who underwent transfer of the ipsilateral fibula on a vascular pedicle between 2.1 and 10.8 years of age were retrospectively reviewed. Average follow-up was 11 years after the index procedure. Seven patients had reached skeletal maturity. Clinical records and radiographs were reviewed to determine patient demographics, surgical parameters, union rate, refracture rate, residual deformity, and functional outcome. RESULTS Eight patients (73%) achieved union at an average of 20.1 months. Additional bone grafting procedures were required in 4 patients with distal nonunions. There were 3 refractures (38%). Four patients eventually underwent amputation, and 1 patient had a persistent nonunion at final follow-up. Residual deformity included tibial valgus and procurvatum deformities, limb length discrepancy, and ankle valgus. Use of the ipsilateral fibula did not seem to increase the risk of ankle valgus. Functional outcomes were good in all but one patient. CONCLUSIONS Use of the ipsilateral fibula as a pedicle graft provides reasonable results in healing congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. Patients should be monitored for the sequelae of this condition, including nonunion, refracture, shortening, and angular deformity, and treated accordingly. METHODS Therapeutic Level IV.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011542 Pseudarthrosis A pathologic entity characterized by deossification of a weight-bearing long bone, followed by bending and pathologic fracture, with inability to form normal BONY CALLUS leading to existence of the "false joint" that gives the condition its name. (Dorland, 27th ed) Pseudoarthrosis,Pseudarthroses,Pseudoarthroses
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females
D005360 Fibula The bone of the lower leg lateral to and smaller than the tibia. In proportion to its length, it is the most slender of the long bones. Fibulas
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D005599 Fractures, Ununited A fracture in which union fails to occur, the ends of the bone becoming rounded and eburnated, and a false joint occurs. (Stedman, 25th ed) Fracture, Ununited,Ununited Fracture,Ununited Fractures
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective

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