The use of free vascularized fibular grafts in skeletal reconstruction for bone tumors in children

Treatment of benign lesions of humerus with resection and non-vascularised, autologous fibular graft

The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term results of surgical en bloc resection and replacement with non-vascularised, autologous fibular graft for the treatment of large benign humeral lesions without fixation. We retrospectively reviewed data of seven females and 13 males with unilateral benign lesions where steroid injection, curettage and bone grafting or pathological fracture failed to restore integrity. Subperiosteal, en bloc resection of the cystic lesion with a margin of the normal bone was performed. The average age of the patients at the time of operation was 11.8 years (range 4-28 years). All patients were skeletally mature at last follow-up. Aneurysmal bone cysts were histologically identified in seven cases, solitary cysts in 11 and fibrous dysplasia in two cases. No recurrence of the pathology, pain, graft fracture or limitation in range of motion was noted. In three patients in whom the cyst was adjacent to the proximal growth plate of the humerus, there was shortening of the bone at the last follow-up examination measuring 2 cm, 4.5 cm and 6 cm, respectively. Two cases had a valgus deformity of 10° and 15°, respectively, which was evident radiographically at the time of last follow-up. The results of en bloc resection with non-vascularised, autologous fibular graft for the treatment of large benign humeral lesions without fixation are encouraging. The risk of associated complications is low. In our opinion this should be the method of choice in the treatment of large, multi-chamber benign bone lesions of the humerus which fail more "conservative" treatment.

Ewing sarcoma of clavicle in children: report of 5 cases

Ewing sarcoma accounts for about 2% to 3% of childhood tumors and can occur in any bone, but it is most often found in extremities and central axis. Ewing sarcoma affecting clavicle is uncommon. We report 5 cases of Ewing sarcoma of clavicle treated in our institution. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 11.6 years (2 to 15 y). There were 3 males and 2 females. All patients received chemotherapy before and after the surgery. Likewise, radiotherapy was administrated after tumor excision in one patient. Different methods of surgical treatment were used and included: claviculectomy, claviculectomy and vascularized fibular autograft, and claviculectomy and clavicle allograft. One patient died during the follow-up because of the recurrence of the tumor and presence of metastatic disease. The remaining 4 patients had good functional outcomes with no pain of the shoulder at final follow-up. In conclusion, Ewing sarcoma of clavicle is a very rare tumor and different methods of surgical treatment can be used. Clavicle often can be resected with no need for reconstruction, especially in young children. Autografts or allografts can restore the normal anatomy of the shoulder.

Tibia adaptation after fibula harvesting: an in vivo quantitative study

Absence of the fibula after harvesting to reconstruct an upper-limb segment increases loads on the donor-side tibia and thereby provides a unique opportunity to analyze the bone adaptation process in humans. We therefore quantified densitometric and morphologic changes of the donor-side tibia in three young patients (ages 8, 13, 16 years), on the basis of computed tomography (CT) examinations of both legs (one preoperatively and two postoperatively). The range of final followup was 27-43 months. Three-dimensional models of shank bones were generated from CT data and used to measure cross-sectional area, diaphyseal cortical thickness, and cross-sectional moment of inertia. In addition, density of the newly formed bone was evaluated. The donor-side tibia showed morphologic and density adaptation with time. New bone was deposited predominantly in the interosseous space and almost replaced the bone area lost by excision of the fibula. The second moment of area grew more in the donor-side tibia than in the intact one, without fully recovering the contralateral tibia-fibula complex values, and the principal axes rotated toward the preoperative direction. Thus, while considerable adaptation had occurred by 27-43 months in these young patients, the adaptation was incomplete; the mineral density of the newly formed bone recovered normal cortical bone values only in the patient with the longest followup (43 months).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Case reports: lengthening of a vascularized free fibular graft

Wide bone resection is sometimes necessary for bone tumors, and reconstruction is a major challenge. Vascularized fibular graft is one alternative but may result in progressive limb-length discrepancy (LLD) in children with substantial growth left. Progressive distraction lengthening with an external fixator is now a standard procedure to generally correct LLD. However, lengthening of free vascularized fibular grafts for lower limb reconstruction has not been reported frequently and then only in small series or case reports. We report our experience with three patients with lengthening after tibial reconstruction with a free vascularized fibular graft and review the literature.