Failure of free vascularized fibular graft for osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a histopathologic study of 6 cases. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The rationale for the use of free vascularized fibular graft for osteonecrosis of the hip is based on the assumption that the graft will provide support and blood supply to the osteonecrotic head. We report the histopathologic features of 6 consecutive osteonecrotic heads with failed vascularized fibular grafts. Three grafts were partially viable, and 3 were necrotic. The medullary canal was completely necrotic in 4 grafts. A thin layer of new, viable periosteal bone and bone remodeling was present at the surface of 4 grafts. New bone applied to the surface of the graft, especially in the 3 necrotic ones, suggests that the new bone originated from the host bed and not from the graft. Therefore, the risks and benefits of the vascular anastomosis, which in these cases provided no viability to the graft, should be re-evaluated. These findings were observed in failed cases and cannot be extrapolated to successful ones.

publication date

  • April 1, 2005

Research

keywords

  • Bone Transplantation
  • Femur Head Necrosis
  • Graft Survival
  • Microsurgery

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 16244375843

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.arth.2004.05.006

PubMed ID

  • 15809951

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 20

issue

  • 3