Stress fracture in Vascularized fibular Grafts

혈관 부착 이식 비골에 발생한 피로골절

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress fracture of vascularized fibular grafts(VFG) by analyzing factors associated with stress fracture and the treatment results. Materials and Methods : From June 1985 to May 1998, 7 patients with stress fractures in the 38 patients with long bone defect who had vascularized fibular graft were evaluated with clinical and radiologic methods including grafted fibular length and hypertrophic index of de Boer. The average age of the patients was 35 years(range, $14{\sim}60$ years). The mean follow-up period was 20 months(range, $16{\sim}32$ months). Results: 7(18.4%) stress fractures occurred in 38 patients. Characteristics of the fractures were (1) all occurred at lower extremity of male patients treated with VFG for long bone defected caused by infected nonunion; (2) all occurred 10 months at the average(range, $4{\sim}17$ months) after VFG; and (3) the length and hypertrophic index of grafted fibula had no influence on the incidence of stress fracture. Union was obtained in 3 patients by conservative treatment. 4 patients obtained union by internal fixation; one at immediately onset of fracture; and three after failure of conservative treatment who had fracture around the knee joint. Conclusion : Stress fracture may occur during the first one year after vascularized fibular graft and more attention must be paid for prevention of it, especially in the cases of infected nonunion. Stress fracture around the knee joint was expected to lead to a good result of early union by operative treatment.