Treatment of Congenital Pseudarthrosis of Tibia by Vascularized Fibular Graft

Abstract

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results in a group of patients with congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia treated by transfer of a vascularized fibular graft from the contralateral extremity. MATERIAL: The group included three boys and two girls aged 2 to 8 years at the time of surgery. In two patients, the vascularized graft transfer was preceded by other operations. All patients but one had Crawford type IV pseudarthrosis. The signs of peripheral neurofibromatosis were found in four of the five patients. METHODS: The operation was carried out by two surgical teams, i. e., orthopedic and microsurgery (plastic surgery) specialists. Deep dissection of the pseudarthrosis was performed down to healthy, well vascularized tissue; a vascularized pedicle bone graft was harvested from the contralateral fibula. The graft was inserted and anchored intramedullarily in both tibial fragments, and stability was provided with a K-wire introduced through the calcaneus. Subsequently, the vascular pedicle of the fibular graft was joined to the surrounding vessels (anterior tibial artery and anterior tibial vein). The extremity was immobilized in plaster cast and later a KAFO brace was applied. RESULTS: Graft union partially failed in the proximal end of the graft due to bone resorption of both the graft and the proximal tibial fragment in two patients. This was successfully treated by additional spongioplasty. In all patients bony union was achieved at an average time of 9.8 months (range, 6 to 21 months). An increase by more than 100 % in the diameter of the transplanted fibula was recorded in four patients. The increase, which was of course related to follow-up time, was a clear proof of primary graft vascularization. DISCUSSION: The use of vascularized fibular graft harvested from the contralateral extremity showed high effectiveness in comparison with other methods. This was in agreement with the relevant literature reports. CONCLUSIONS: This method can be used regardless of patients' age and our experience showed that, even in small children, union can be achieved and can thus allow for early weight-bearing and prevention of crus atrophy.