Abstract
OBJECTIVE: When vascular complications are suspected after the microsurgical transfer of free buried fibular bone flaps without a skin island, revision surgery often proves to be unnecessary. We sought to determine the efficacy of color duplex sonography in the close observation of bone graft patency postoperatively.
STUDY DESIGN: Twelve free fibular bone flaps without a skin island were postoperatively monitored through color duplex sonography with a 7.5-MHz scanner.
RESULTS: With color duplex sonography, the rate of perfusion in the vascular pedicle could be visualized in all 12 fibular flaps. In 3 patients, vascular complications and flap failure were suspected. However, because adequate perfusion of the vascular pedicle was observed immediately after surgery and in the daily follow-up examinations, revision surgery was not necessary.
CONCLUSIONS: Color duplex sonography is not time-consuming; in fact, it is a reliable, noninvasive, and inexpensive method for the postoperative monitoring of free bone flaps.
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