Free Vascularized Fibula Graft after in Bloc Resection of the Long Bones in the Children

Patients: Limb salvage surgery is the standard care for most malignant tumors affecting the extremities in the child. Vascularized fibula transfer is the most microsurgical option to reconstruct long-bone defects. Between 1985 and 2009, eighty two children with intractable diseases of the limbs were treated using free vascularized fibula grafts. There were boys (n=54) and girls (n=28). Age: 4 to 17 years (mean=11). The reconstructed sites were the humerus (=16), the radius (n=9) femur (n=44) tibia (n=13). After the resection of the sarcoma, the length of the bone defect ranged from 12 to 35 cm (mean: 22 cm). Etiology was: osteo sarcoma n=54, sarcoma of Ewing n=27. One girl 4, 5 years old with congenital pseudo arthrosis of radius and cubitus had a resection and reconstruction with a U shaped vascularized fibular transplant. Results: No post-operative death. One local recurrence necessitated amputation of the limb. Complications were numerous especially for the femur: fracture of the grafted fibula, necessity of additional bone grafts, malunion (delayed consolidation) needed reoperation, pseudo arthrosis, ankle valgus, radial inclination necessitated reoperation. The mean period required to obtain radiographic bone union was 5 months. The functional results of the patients were evaluated according to the scale of Enneking. The results in our série ranged from 21 to 30 points. These results are regard to pain, emotional acceptance, manual dexterity.The vascularized fibula grafts are indicated specially in children with long bone defects more than 8 cm. The future will be probably vascularized fibular graft associated with stem cells and matrix.