Vascularized Small-Bone Transfers for Fracture Nonunion and Bony Defects

Abstract

Vascularized small-bone grafting is an efficient and often necessary surgical approach for nonunion or necrosis of several bones in particular sites of the body, including scaphoid, lunate, distal ulna, and clavicle. The medial femoral condyle is an excellent graft source that can be used in treating scaphoid, ulna, clavicle, or lower-extremity bone defects, including nonunion. Vascularized bone grafting to the small bones, particularly involving reconstruction of damaged cartilage surfaces, should enhance subchondral vascular supply and help prevent cartilage regeneration. Vascularized osteoperiosteal and corticoperiosteal flaps are useful for treating nonunion of long bones.

Keywords: Fracture nonunion; Kienbock disease; Lunate; Medial femoral condyle; Osteoperiosteal or corticoperiosteal flaps; Pedicled distal radial grafting; Scaphoid; Vascularized bone grafting.