ABSTRACT
At our institution from 1980 to 1985, 30 patients underwent resection of malignant
or locally aggressive bone tumors, with limb salvage and reconstruction by free vascularized
bone grafts. Of the 26 patients followed up for at least four months (average, 21
months), four had complications. In these four, there were three nonunions, two infections,
and one stress fracture. The average duration of immobilization was 7.6 months in
the lower extremity, five months in the pelvis, and 3.8 months in the upper extremity.
The average time to union was 6.3 months in the lower extremity, five months in the
pelvis, and five months in the upper extremity. Although the technique of oncologic
reconstruction must be individualized, our experience indicates that vascularized
bone grafts offer significant advantages over conventional methods in selected patients.
