Vascularized bone graft from the supracondylar region of the femur.

Abstract

Free vascularized thin corticoperiosteal grafts and small periosteal bone grafts harvested from the supracondylar region of the femur are described. These grafts are nourished from the articular branch of the descending genicular artery and vein. Unlike currently used vascularized bone grafts, this graft can be successfully harvested with disturbing the vascularity. Thin corticoperiosteal grafts consist of periosteum with a thin layer of outer cortical bone and include the cambium layer, which has a better osteogenic capacity. This graft is elastic and readily conforms to the recipient bed configuration. Thin corticoperiosteal grafts were used for fracture nonunion of the long bone with smaller bone defect and to treat forty-six patients with avascular necrosis of the body of the talus, scaphoid, and lunate bone.