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INTRODUCTION Posttraumatic brachial plexus (BP) palsy was used to be treated by reconstruction with nerve grafts. For the last two decades, nerve transfers have gained popularity and believed to be more effective than nerve grafting. The aim of this systematic review was to compare elbow flexion restoration with nerve transfers or nerve grafting after traumatic BP injury. METHODS PRISMA-IPD structure was used for 52 studies included. Patients were allocated as C5-C6 (n = 285), C5-C6-C7 (n = 150), and total BP injury (n = 245) groups. In each group, two treatment modalities were compared, and effects of age and preoperative interval were analyzed. RESULTS In C5-C6 injuries, 93.1% of nerve transfer patients achieved elbow flexion force ≥M3, which was significantly better when compared to 69.2% of nerve graft patients (p

Purpose To evaluate femoral head bone viability following free vascularized fibular grafting (FVFG) for osteonecrosis using SPECT/CT imaging. Methods Ten hips (9 patients) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) undergoing FVFG were prospectively enrolled. Four cases showed ARCO stage II, while six showed ARCO stage III. The mean age at surgery was 15.7 years (range, 13-22 years). Hip Harris Score (HHS) was measured pre- and post-operative. Bone scintigraphy with SPECT/CT was performed at 2 weeks and 6 months following surgery. Results Mean follow-up was 4.0 years (range, 2-5.9 years). Mean HHS increased from 37.2 to 92.3. SPECT/CT findings revealed a progressive increase of femoral head uptake in all cases, suggesting subchondral graft bone viability. No progressive deformation of the femoral head was evidenced in radiographic evaluation at final follow-up. Conclusions This study demonstrates FVFG's capacity for revitalizing femoral head subchondral bone grafting in patients with ONFH, surgically treated following Urbaniak's technique. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:573-577, 2016.

Several microsurgical techniques have been described for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the talus (ONT). Recently reported in children, vascularized periosteal grafts showed promising revascularizing properties. We report a novel technique using a pedicled periosteal graft from the first metatarsal bone to treat steroid-induced early Ficat-Arlet stage III ONT in an 11-year-old boy. The patient presented initial favorable clinical and radiological results which were maintained at 34 months during the last follow-up. Through this original technique, and basing on the powerful osteogenic and vasculogenic propreties of periosteal flaps, we could effectively induce bone revascularization and prevent further collapse of the talar dome. V C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 00:000‐000, 2012.

Literature on the reconstruction of the proximal femur in skeletally immature patients with the use of an epiphyseal transplant is scarce and with variable results depending on the indication. We report successful outcomes using a modified vascularized fibular epiphyseal transplant in a 4-year-old boy with an oncologic lesion. We discuss the advantages of supplementing the standard graft with a vascularized fibular periosteal tissue. The vascularized fibular epiphyseal transplant (VFET) is an effective option in the reconstruction of the epiphysis in skeletally immature patients, owing to the advantage of restoring both the joint function and the growth potential in a single surgical operation. Multiple reported cases demonstrate the effectiveness of this complex technique in upper extremity reconstruction. However, literature is scarce regarding its use for the reconstruction of the proximal femur and hip joint. Through this article, we report the use of a VFET in the reconstruction of a proximal femur in a 4-year-old boy after an intra-articular wide excision of an epithelioid hemangioendotelioma. We also discuss the advantages of designing the flap as a composite vascularized epiphyseo-osteo-periosteal flap.

To evaluate femoral head bone viability following free vascularized fibular grafting (FVFG) for osteonecrosis using SPECT/CT imaging.Ten hips (9 patients) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) undergoing FVFG were prospectively enrolled. Four cases showed ARCO stage II, while six showed ARCO stage III. The mean age at surgery was 15.7 years (range, 13-22 years). Hip Harris Score (HHS) was measured pre- and post-operative. Bone scintigraphy with SPECT/CT was performed at 2 weeks and 6 months following surgery.Mean follow-up was 4.0 years (range, 2-5.9 years). Mean HHS increased from 37.2 to 92.3. SPECT/CT findings revealed a progressive increase of femoral head uptake in all cases, suggesting subchondral graft bone viability. No progressive deformation of the femoral head was evidenced in radiographic evaluation at final follow-up.This study demonstrates FVFG's capacity for revitalizing femoral head subchondral bone grafting in patients with ONFH, surgically treated following Urbaniak's technique. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:573-577, 2016.

The vascularized fibular periosteal flap has been recently described and showed solid angio and osteogenic features. We report the use of a free vascularized fibular periosteal transplant in the treatment of a El-Rosasy-Paley Type III congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia in a 7-year-old boy, with a prior unsuccessful surgery at the age of three. The contralateral fibular periosteum was used to replace two-thirds of the hamartomatous tibial periosteum. We did not proceed to debriding the focus of the pseudarthrosis nor addressed the tibial recurvatum or revised the previous tibial rod. Consolidation was achieved radiologically at 3 months, allowing for the tibial rod to be removed. One year postoperatively, the patient ambulated without the use of a protective orthesis and resumed his sports practice. This novel pathogenesis-based technique showed promising results and a prompt healing of such a difficult orthopedic condition.