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Vascularized fibula flap in the management of segmental bone loss following osteomyelitis in children at a Ugandan hospital.

ABSTRACT: Background: Hematogenous osteomyelitis is commonly observed in the pediatric population across sub-Saharan Africa. This retrospective case series was designed to evaluate the complications and outcomes of treatment using a vascularized fibula flap (VFF) to fill segmental bone defects secondary to osteomyelitis in children in a low-resource setting in CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, Uganda. Methods: Clinical notes and radiographs of children with a diagnosis of osteomyelitis that subsequently underwent a VFF procedure between October 2013 and December 2017 were reviewed. All patients were clinically and radiographically evaluated in 2019. Results: Forty-four children, with an average bone defect of 10.5 cm, were included. Eighty-four percent of children had successful VFF limb reconstruction. Integration of the graft was radiologically sound in 20.8 weeks on average. The postoperative phase was uneventful in 29 % of patients. Complications were observed in the remaining patients, including flap failure (6), donor leg neurapraxia (3), cutaneous paddle necrosis (11), graft fracture (2), skin graft loss (6), fixator failure (1) and non-union (2). Functional outcomes were rated as excellent in 13 patients, good in 14, fair in 9 and poor in 8. There was no recurrence of the bone infection in any of the enrolled children. Conclusion: Despite being a complex and demanding procedure, VFF is a good option for reconstructing post-osteomyelitis bone defects, particularly when associated with loss of soft tissue envelope. Considering the more than satisfactory functional and clinical outcomes, this procedure should be kept in mind for these complex pediatric cases of bone and soft tissue loss, even in a low-resource setting.

SUBMITTER: Loro A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8182670 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundDue to extended life expectancy and recent improvements in surgical techniques, limb salvage has replaced amputation as the gold standard and is now performed in 90-95% of upper extremity malignancies. However, many of these salvage procedures are associated with significant postsurgical complications. In particular, the clavicula pro humero (CPH) procedure is associated with high rates of nonunion. We present our experience with upper extremity salvage using the free vascularized fibular flap (VFF) after failure or nonunion of the original CPH procedure in the pediatric population.MethodsFive patients under the age of 18 diagnosed with upper extremity sarcoma who underwent tumor resection with immediate CPH reconstruction complicated with nonunion, and subsequent revision with free VFF were included. Data on patient demographics, oncologic characteristics, surgical procedures, intraoperative details, postoperative complications, and time to graft union were recorded.ResultsFive patients (average age = 8.4 years; range = 5-10 years at surgery date) underwent secondary limb salvage procedure with free VFF reconstruction following failed CPH reconstruction for proximal humeral osteosarcoma (n = 4) or Ewing sarcoma (n = 1). The mean follow-up was 3.7 years. Complications occurred in five patients (100%), with three patients requiring reoperation (60%). Four patients achieved graft union (average union time = 3.7 months) and successful limb reconstruction. Four patients were alive with no local recurrence of the disease. One patient did not achieve union and was lost to follow-up.ConclusionPrimary bone tumors in the pediatric population require wide surgical resection, and reconstruction often has high complication rates that can warrant further procedures. A free VFF is a viable option for upper extremity salvage after previously failed reconstructions because it provides vascularized tissue to a scarred tissue bed and allows for the replacement or augmentation of large bony defects.

Project description:BackgroundFree osteocutaneous fibula flap (FFF) is currently considered the best option for segmental mandibular reconstruction; however, there are only a few reports comparing secondary with primary reconstructions using FFF. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of secondary mandibular reconstruction using FFF when compared with primary mandibular reconstruction.MethodsFrom October 2018 to February 2020, patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction using FFF after segmental mandibulectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The size and location of the mandibular defect, the segment length and number of osteotomies in the fibula, types of the mandibular plating system, kinds and laterality of the recipient vessels were recorded from the surgical notes. Flap survival, duration of nasogastric tube use, and implant installation after reconstruction were recorded as postoperative evaluation indices.ResultsTwelve patients underwent mandibular reconstruction using FFF during the study period. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics other than body mass index between the primary (n = 8) and secondary (n = 4) reconstruction groups. No significant differences were observed in the size and location of defects, the segment length and number of osteotomies in the fibula, and the types of mandibular plating system. There was no significant difference in the kinds of recipient vessels; however, the laterality of recipient vessels was ipsilateral in all cases of primary reconstructions and contralateral in all cases of secondary reconstructions. Three out of eight patients with primary FFF reconstruction developed partial flap necrosis. Four patients in the secondary FFF reconstruction group achieved complete flap survival. The duration of use of the nasogastric tube and implant installation after reconstruction was comparable between the two groups.ConclusionSafe and effective secondary mandibular reconstruction can be performed in this clinical case study using FFF.

Project description:BackgroundExtensive through-and-through oromandibular defects after advanced oral carcinoma excision pose a reconstructive challenge for the head and neck surgeon. These complex oromandibular wounds often involve the mandible, oral and/or aerodigestive mucosa, and the external skin. As a result, these defects are often not amenable to reconstruction with a single flap due to the volume of soft tissue needed and the three-dimensional reconstructive requirement. The use of two free flaps has often been suggested to overcome this reconstructive challenge. A simpler and less technically demanding way to deal with this may involve the use of a free flap in combination with a pedicled regional flap. We present our experience of the use of a simultaneous microvascular fibula free flap (FFF) with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMC) for addressing these defects.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed of patients treated with a FFF and PMMC combination for the reconstruction of oromandibular defects at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson, MS) between October 2013 and February 2016. A minimum follow-up of 12 months was required. Data collected included the extent and location of tumor involvement, size of the postablative defect, tumor histology, clinical and pathological staging, length of follow-up, functional outcomes, and associated complications.ResultsA total of three patients were identified to have been treated with the above technique. Defects repaired involved through-and-through mandibular defects with associated oral mucosa and external skin defects. In all cases, the FFF was used for restoring bony continuity with the skin paddle used to reconstruct the intraoral lining. The PMMC was used for reconstruction of the external skin defect and for providing soft tissue bulk. The average size of the fibula skin paddle used for intraoral reconstruction was 7.7 cm × 11.7 cm. The average size of the PMMC paddle was 7.3 × 9 cm. The mean follow-up was 21.7 months. Both the FFF and PMMC survived in all cases, although postoperative wound healing complications occurred in two of the three patients. There was one partial flap loss. Two patients regained good oral intake while one patient tolerated oral intake but was PEG tube-dependent.ConclusionsThe combination of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and a vascularized free fibular flap is a viable option for the reconstruction of complex through-and-through oromandibular defects. This technique may be useful when a single microvascular free flap is not sufficient for reconstruction of such defects.

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Vascularized fibula flap in the management of segmental bone loss following osteomyelitis in children at a Ugandan hospital.

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