Background. For the successfulmanagement of vascularized free fibular bone grafts, the early detection ofvascular complications is important. When vascular complications are suspectedwithout a reliable monitoring of the graft perfusion, revision surgery oftenproved to be unnecessary. Color duplex sonography for the postoperativemonitoring of free fibular bone grafts without a skin island isdemonstrated.
Material and methods. The quantitativeand qualitative monitoring of the perfusion of microvascular anastomosis andthe transplanted tissues using color duplex sonography with a 7.5-Mhz scanner(Elegra, Siemens, Germany) for the postoperative monitoring of 12 free fibularbone grafts was performed. Using color duplex sonography, the perfusion of thevascular pedicle and the free fibular bone grafts was demonstrated in all 12free fibular bone grafts. In three patients vascular complications and failureof the bone grafts were suspected due to postoperative complications next tofree fibular bone grafts such as abscess formation, wound dehiscence, anddisturbances of wound healing. Using color duplex sonography, adequateperfusion of the vascular pedicle and the transplanted tissue was demonstratedand therefore revision surgery not indicated.
Discussion. Color duplex sonography isa reliable, noninvasive, and inexpensive method for the postoperativemonitoring of free fibular bone grafts.