Purpose: Reconstruction after resection of malignant bone tumours remains a major challenge. Free vascularised fibular grafts may be a useful alternative in this indication.

Material: Thirty children (nine girls, twenty-one boys) were treated between 1993 and 2000. Mean age was eleven years. Tumour histology was: osteogenic osteo-sarcoma (n=20), Ewing tumour (n=5), justacortical osteosarcoma (n=3), synovialosarcoma (n=1), and chondrosarcoma (n=1). Tumours were located in the femur (n=17), the tibia (n=6), the humerus (n=5), the radius (n=1), and the distal fibular (n=1). The length of resection varied from 100 mm to 260 mm (mean 160 mm). Internal fixation was used in 27 cases and external fixation in three. The adjacent epiphysis was preserved in 22 cases and initial arthrodesis was performed in eight.

Method: Patients were followed clinically and radiographically. A bone scintigram was obtained in all patients at least once during the postoperative period. Radiological assessment was based on the hypertrophy index of the graft using the method described by DeBoer and Wood. Functional outcome was assessed using the Enneking criteria.

Results: Mean follow-up was 51 months (range 2 – 9 years). Early amputation was required in two patients due to local ocological complications. One patient died at eight months follow-up due to lung metastasis. Among the remaining 27 patients, primary bone healing was achieved in 22. The five other patients exhibited clear signs of non-vascularisation. Successful healing was achieved in four of these patients after a complementary autologous graft. All cases of stress fracture healed after simple immobilisation.

The twenty-two patients who achieved primary bone healing developed a hypertrophic graft (mean 61%, range 22 – 190%). Graft hypertrophy was not observed in the five cases requiring a secondary graft after the scintigram demonstrated lack of vascularisation. Hypertrophy of the vascularised fibular graft was more marked for lower limb reconstructions than for upper limb reconstructions..

Functional outcome was satisfactory in all cases. On the 30-point Enneking scale as modified, our patients achieved a mean 26 points (range 19 – 30).

Discussion: Outcome was directly related to patency of the vascular anastomoses. Bone scintigraphy, performed one month after reconstruction surgery, was an important element for assessing prognosis. In case of unsuccessful vascularisation, a complementary cortico-cancellous graft should be used. Early weight-bearing is advisable using adequate protective devices. Dynamic osteosynthesis systems should be helpful in improving graft hypertrophy.