Author/Authors :
Hameed, Shahid Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan , Ehtesham-ul-Haq, Rana Hassan Javaid Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan , Ahmed, Rao Saood Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan , Majid, Abdul Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan , Waqas, Muhammad Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan , Aslam, Ayesha Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan , Yusuf, Omamah Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan , Butt, Ahsin Masood Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan , Ali, Ghazanfar Combined Military Hospital - Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pakistan
Abstract :
The case series was conducted at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from June 2009 to May 2011, and comprised 19 patients in whom free fibula flap was performed for upper and lower limb reconstruction, using SPSS 16. Results showed that flap survivalwas 100%. One (5.2%) flap was re-explored for venous congestion and was salvaged. One (5.2%) patient of congenital pseudoarthrosis of tibia had a fracture of the fibula and was treated with external fixation. Average follow up was 8 months. Mean union time and full weight-bearing was 6.5±1.34 months (range3-8 months) and 9 months, respectively. No recurrence of pseudoathrosis was observed until the last follow up, with only a 1.5cm length discrepancy in one patient. The results proved that a microvascular free fibular flap heals rapidly, causes early functional recovery and it can be raised as an osteocutaneous flap.
