Vascularized bone grafts.

Abstract

Free vascularized bone grafts allow living bone tissue to be transplanted to replace a bone defect. The use of vascularized bone grafts requires microvascular dissection and attachment to a recipient site artery and vein, whereas rotational or pedicle grafts are moved, while still attached to their blood supply, to a new site. Conventional nonvascularized bone grafts heal by resorption and creeping substitution. The major benefits of vascularized bone grafts are more rapid and complete incorporation of the graft which provides immediate structural support, the ability of the transplanted (living) bone to form new bone, and the addition of new blood supply to the recipient area. The technique of the free vascularized fibula transplantation is described.