Assessment of fibular regeneration after graft harvesting in patients with benign bone tumors: A retrospective study comparing different age groups

• Published in: Orthopaedics & traumatology, surgery & research surgery & research, 2022-06, Vol.108 (4), p.103108-103108, Article 103108
• Main Authors: Mustafa, Mohamed Abdel Rahman, El Masry, Ayman Mohammad, Azmy, Sherif Ishak, El Mowafi, Mohamed Ahmed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aged; Bone Neoplasms - surgery; Bone Transplantation - methods; Child; Fibula - surgery; Graft; Humans; Non-vascularized fibula; Regeneration; Retrospective Studies; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - pathology; Tibia - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1877-0568; 1877-0568
• DOI: 10.1016/j.otsr.2021.103108

Using non-vascularized fibula as autogenous graft has gained much success in reconstruction after tumor resection owing to its simplicity. Donor-site morbidity related to fibula deficiency includes valgus ankle, chronic pain and stress fractures of the ipsilateral tibia. Growth potential before skeletal maturity is the most important factor promoting fibular regeneration after non- vascularized harvesting, and its decline with skeletal maturity causes failure of fibular regeneration. This is a retrospective study of the patients with benign bone tumors who required bone defect reconstruction by non-vascularized fibular graft utilizing a periosteal preserving technique. The study entailed 118 patients below the age of 12, 100 age 12–18, and 80 above the age of 18. In children below 12, regeneration was complete in 95%, incomplete in 4.2% and partial in 0.8% of the cases. In adolescents, regeneration was complete in 72%, incomplete in 15% and partial in 13% of the cases. After skeletal maturity, no regeneration occurred in 92.5%of the patients, while partial regeneration occurred in 7.5% of the cases. Valgus ankle occurred in 2.8% of the cases before skeletal maturity, and none in older patients. Complete regeneration after non-vascularized fibula graft harvesting is the rule in pediatric patients and to a lesser extent in adolescent group. This is usually associated by near normal regaining of the regenerate strength and function. Non-regeneration dominates in older age group. The length of the harvested segment has no impact on the regeneration or the remodeling process. IV; case series, retrospective comparative study.