Safety of fibula free flap in patients following total knee replacement.

Abstract

Fibula free flap (FFF) is the preferred osteocutaneous flap for reconstruction of large head and neck composite defects. There is a paucity of data whether FFF can be performed safely in patients with knee replacement (total knee arthroplasty [TKA]). Multi-institutional review of outcomes following FFF in patients who had prior TKA. Ten surgeons reported successful FFF in 53 patients with prior TKA. The most common preoperative imaging was a CT angiogram of the bilateral lower extremities. There was no evidence of intraoperative vascular abnormality. Physical therapy began between postoperative day 1 to postoperative day 3. At 1 month postoperatively, 40% of patients were using a cane or walker to ambulate, but by 3 months all had returned to baseline ambulatory status. At >1 year, there were no gait complications. FFF appears safe in patients with prior knee replacement without an increased risk of complications compared to baseline.