New Horizons in Vascularized Bone Grafts

In 1905, Huntington documented the pedicled transfer of a vascularized fibular bone for the treatment of a segmental tibial defect.[1] Since Huntington's original report, the realm of vascularized bone grafting has grown substantially, particularly with advances in microvascular technique. Vascularized bone grafts provide many benefits over conventional bone grafting including the potential for primary osteogenesis and bone graft hypertrophy while providing enhanced resistance to infection. Newer techniques have added the ability to transfer viable growth plates as well articular cartilage, creating further reconstructive options for the surgeon.

Vascularized bone grafting has become an indispensable tool in dealing with bony defects throughout the body. Within this issue of Seminars in Plastic Surgery, we have gathered some of the world's leading authorities on vascularized bone transfer and asked them to address difficult problems in bony reconstruction throughout the body; these include the reconstruction of the mandibular condyle, vascularized growth plate transfer, the treatment of avascular necrosis of the carpus, and several others. We hope this issue will inspire surgeons to continue to push the limits of bony reconstruction in an effort to provide patients with the best possible surgical outcomes.

We are deeply indebted to the many authors who have contributed their time and effort to this issue. In addition, we would like to thank the editorial staff at Thieme for their assistance and patience in preparing this issue of Seminars in Plastic Surgery.

REFERENCE

• 1 Huntington T W. Case of bone transference. Use of a segment of fibula to supply a defect in the tibia.  Ann Surg. 1905;  41 249-251