Evaluation of fibula free flap donor site morbidity

Garrett, Alan; Ducic, Yadranko; Athre, Raghu S.; Motley, Travis; Carpenter, Brian

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2005.07.003

« Previous Next »American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
Volume 27, Issue 1 , Pages 29-32, January 2006

Evaluation of fibula free flap donor site morbidity☆

Alan Garrett, DPM
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Yadranko Ducic, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
- Division of Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Corresponding author. Division of Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, 1500 South Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA. Tel.: +1 817 927 1172; fax: +1 817 927 1605.
Raghu S. Athre, MD
- Division of Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
Travis Motley, MS, DPM
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Brian Carpenter, DPM
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA

Received 16 December 2004

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate foot and ankle function in a series of patients undergoing fibula microvascular free tissue transfer.

Study Design

A nonrandomized, nonblinded analysis was performed using the ankle-hindfoot scale as well as radiographic analysis to determine donor site morbidity.

Results

Overall, foot ankle function was deemed to be good in this series of patients. Average ankle-hindfoot score was 84.82 of a possible 100 (range, 55-100). Radiographic analysis of donor and contralateral ankles showed no difference in the syndesmotic space or medial clear space. Only 1 patient had increased talar tilt compared with the contralateral side, although this patient had preservation of stability.

Conclusion

Fibula free flap harvest appears to be associated with acceptable donor site morbidity and preservation of good foot and ankle function in most individuals.