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Peer-reviewedCC BYCase reports in orthopedics

Vascularized Fibula for Early Management of Upper Extremity Trauma With Critical Bone Loss: A Report of Two Cases.

  • Brian Chen1,2
  • Lindsey Herrod1,2
  • Mayo Hotta1,2
  • Jorge L Rocha3
  • Martin I Newman1
  • James W Fletcher2,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Plastic Surgery Cleveland Clinic Florida Weston Florida USA clevelandclinic.org.
  2. 2Department of Plastic Surgery Broward Health Medical Center Fort Lauderdale Florida USA browardhealth.org.
  3. 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery Broward Health Medical Center Fort Lauderdale Florida USA browardhealth.org.
  4. 4Vanguard Plastic Surgery Fort Lauderdale Florida USA.
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Abstract

We present two Type 3B open fracture cases with critical bone loss in the upper extremity: a 9 cm ulnar defect and 8.5 cm distal humerus defect treated with vascularized fibula graft 6 and 21 days postinjury, respectively. Both patients had complete healing of soft tissues, no known complications, and returned to heavy duty labor within 3 and 5 months of injury. Although the use of vascularized fibula graft is well described, the novelty of our cases lies in its use as the initial attempt at definitive fixation of acute upper extremity trauma with critical bone loss, rather than as a salvage procedure following nonunion or infection. Critical bone loss following upper extremity trauma is rare and challenging. The vascularized fibula graft is ideal for these cases and should be considered for acute, single-stage reconstruction of traumatic upper extremity bone defects to achieve maximal outcomes in the shortest time.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{chen2026vascularized,
  title = {{Vascularized Fibula for Early Management of Upper Extremity Trauma With Critical Bone Loss: A Report of Two Cases.}},
  author = {Brian Chen and Lindsey Herrod and Mayo Hotta and Jorge L Rocha and Martin I Newman and James W Fletcher},
  journal = {Case reports in orthopedics},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1155/cro/2860926},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953319},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Vascularized Fibula for Early Management of Upper Extremity Trauma With Critical Bone Loss: A Report of Two Cases.
AU  - Brian Chen
AU  - Lindsey Herrod
AU  - Mayo Hotta
AU  - Jorge L Rocha
AU  - Martin I Newman
AU  - James W Fletcher
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/28
JO  - Case reports in orthopedics
DO  - 10.1155/cro/2860926
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953319
AB  - We present two Type 3B open fracture cases with critical bone loss in the upper extremity: a 9 cm ulnar defect and 8.5 cm distal humerus defect treated with vascularized fibula graft 6 and 21 days postinjury, respectively. Both patients had complete healing of soft tissues, no known complications, and returned to heavy duty labor within 3 and 5 months of injury. Although the use of vascularized fibula graft is well described, the novelty of our cases lies in its use as the initial attempt at definitive fixation of acute upper extremity trauma with critical bone loss, rather than as a salvage procedure following nonunion or infection. Critical bone loss following upper extremity trauma is rare and challenging. The vascularized fibula graft is ideal for these cases and should be considered for acute, single-stage reconstruction of traumatic upper extremity bone defects to achieve maximal outcomes in the shortest time.
SN  - 2090-6749
SN  - 2090-6757
ER  -