Free vascularized fibular grafting in combination with a locking plate for the reconstruction of a large tibial defect secondary to osteomyelitis in a child: a case report and literature review

Although a large skeletal defect secondary to osteomyelitis in children is not an uncommon problem, there are no descriptions of the management of such a defect with a free vascularized fibular graft in combination with a locking plate. We performed such a technique, after radical debridement and systemic antibiotic treatment, on a 13-year-old boy suffering from a large 10cm tibial defect secondary to osteomyelitis. Primary union of the graft was achieved at 6 months. No recurrence of osteomyelitis occurred in the 29-month follow-up period, and limb salvage and eradication of the infection were achieved successfully. J Pediatr Orthop B 19:66-70 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.