Traumatic medial malleolar fracture of a fibula flap donor leg

A 50-year-old male presented with a T4 N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth andalveolus. Treatment included a partial mandibulectomy with a free osseocutaneous fibula flap reconstruction. He made a good postoperative recovery and was given adjuvant radiotherapy. No problems were reported with the donor site or ankle. Five months after harvesting the flap the patient sustained a fracture of the medial malleolus having jumped over a ditch playing golf. This was treated successfully with a below knee plaster of Paris cast. The interosseous membrane was not ruptured in the accident indicating that the distal fibula left in situ was adequate to maintain the integrity of the mortice. A degree of ankle instability may be present after fibula flap harvest which is only revealed by athletic activity.