Donor site morbidity following vascularized fibular grafting

• Published in: Microsurgery 1998, Vol.18 (6), p.383-386
• Main Authors: Tang, Christine L., Mahoney, James L., McKee, Michael D., Richards, R.R., Waddell, J.P., Louie, Brian, Yoo, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Transplantation - adverse effects; Bone Transplantation - methods; Bone Wires; Female; Femur Head Necrosis - physiopathology; Femur Head Necrosis - surgery; Fibula - blood supply; Fibula - transplantation; Follow-Up Studies; Hip Joint - physiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Orthopedic surgery; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Range of Motion, Articular; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transplantation, Autologous
• ISSN: 0738-1085; 1098-2752
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2752(1998)18:6<383::AID-MICR8>3.0.CO;2-5

We examined donor site morbidity in thirty‐nine patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head treated by curettage and transplantation of a free ipsilateral fibular graft. Utilising our donor site morbidity questionnaire, scar, functional loss, wound healing, complications, and pain were analysed. Subjective complaints and objective findings were evaluated and compared. Subjective complaints were common and included a sense of instability in 42% and a sense of weakness in 37%. However, objective findings were limited. No clinical instability could be elicited and only great toe flexion (29%) and extension (43%) were found to be mildly weak. Only one patient required reoperation for a donor site problem (2%). Eighty‐nine percent were pain free at time of follow‐up, and 93% felt the scar was good. Range of motion of the knee and ankle of the donor site leg was not different from the nonoperated leg. Donor site morbidity for avascular necrosis of the femoral head is low. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 18:383–386, 1998