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A long‐term study of the donor‐site ankle after vascularized fibula grafts in children
Author(s) -
Omokawa Shohei,
Tamai Susumu,
Takakura Yoshinori,
Yajima Hiroshi,
Kawanishi Kouichi
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2752(1996)17:3<162::aid-micr13>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - synostosis , medicine , valgus deformity , fibula , deformity , ankle , surgery , valgus , orthodontics , tibia
We reviewed the long‐term course of the donor‐site ankle after vascularized fibula grafts in 13 children. The preventive and therapeutic effects of the tibio‐fibular metaphyseal synostosis (T‐F synostosis) against valgus ankle deformity, which is one of the postoperative donor‐site problems, were evaluated based on three radiologic and clinical parameters. Thirteen patients were divided into two groups: patients with or without simultaneous T‐F synostosis when the fibula was taken. Three patients underwent T‐F synostosis secondarily after the development of the valgus deformity. Follow‐up periods averaged 12.4 years. In the patients with primary T‐F synostosis, valgus deformity was only observed in one case. No functional disorder of the ankle joints was observed after T‐F synostosis. In the patients without T‐F synostosis, all the patients younger than 8 years old showed valgus deformity, in which the tilting angle averaged 6.3 degrees. In the three patients who underwent T‐F synostosis secondarily, the tilting angle normalized in cases in which the fixation was performed when the lateral wedging was in a mild stage. There was a statistically significant difference in valgus tilt angle between the two groups (with or without T‐F synostosis). © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.