Use of osteocutaneous "double-barrel fibular flaps" in limb reconstruction: Four clinical cases

The use of a vascularized fibular transfer is a technique used for the reconstruction of large defects in long bones. A technical variation that consists of osteotomizing the transplant, giving two distinct segments, is adapted in the reconstruction of long bones with a large diameter, in particular, the femur or the proximal tibia. The results obtained using this technique in four clinical cases are presented here. The length of the bone defects was between 7.5 and 11 cm. There were two cases involving the tibia, one case the distal humerus, and one case the pelvis. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.