Pedicled Vascularized Bone Graft of the Distal Radius for Recalcitrant Nonunion of the Distal Humerus.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical and radiological outcomes of a series of patients treated with a pedicled vascularized bone graft (VBG) of the distal radius for the treatment of recalcitrant atrophic nonunions of the distal humerus. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: University-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Fifteen patients with supracondylar humeral atrophic nonunions with at least 3 previous failed surgical interventions were included. INTERVENTION: Debridement of the distal humerus nonunion through a posterior elbow approach with provisional fixation was performed. Then, a pedicled VBG was harvested from the distal radius and tunneled back into the humeral bone defect. Iliac crest was used as needed, both for the nonunion and to stabilize the radius. Finally, definitive fixation with 2 locked plates was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Radiological results, complications, elbow range of motion, Mayo elbow performance score, and subjective pain were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 4 male and 11 female patients, with a mean age of 51 (range, 28-73) years. The mean follow-up period was 46 (range, 37-72) months with a minimum of 3 years. Radiological consolidation was achieved in all patients. Elbow range of motion was >100 degrees in 11 patients and between 50 and 100 degrees in 4 patients. Preoperative Mayo scores were poor in all patients. At final follow-up, Mayo scores were excellent in 3, good in 9, and fair in 3 patients. The mean postoperative visual analog scale score was 1.2 (range 0-3). CONCLUSIONS: Pedicled VBG of the distal radius was shown to be a reliable and effective alternative for the treatment of recalcitrant atrophic nonunions of the distal humerus, when other methods have failed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The Fourth Extensor Compartment Artery Vascularized Bone Graft of the Distal Radius for CMC Fusion in the Treatment of Carpal Boss: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Carpometacarpal joints can be affected by traumatic or degenerative pathology. Although different techniques have been described to treat these conditions, most authors agree that arthrodesis is an effective treatment modality. Vascularized bone grafts of the distal radius have been used to treat carpal conditions, such as scaphoid nonunion or Kiënbock disease, and they have been shown to have several advantages over nonvascularized bone grafts. METHODS: We report a case of a carpal boss in a female patient treated with an arthrodesis of the second and third carpometacarpal joints by using the fourth extensor compartment artery vascularized bone graft. RESULTS: At 6 weeks postoperative bone union was achieved. At 2 years follow-up the patient was able to perform daily life activities without pain. CONCLUSIONS: The fourth ECA VBG with reverse blood flow from the dorsal intercarpal arch allowed the graft to reach the CMC. A solid fusion was obtained at 6 weeks due to the biological advantage of the VBG.

Dorsal vascularized grafting for scaphoid nonunion: a comparison of two surgical techniques.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the radiographic and functional outcomes of 2 surgical techniques for treating scaphoid nonunion. DESIGN: Randomized prospective study. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Researchers assessed the outcomes every 2 weeks until bone healing and at discharge. INTERVENTIONS: (1) Vascularized bone grafting (VBG) using the 1, 2 intercompartmental suprareticular artery and (2) a distal radius nonvascularized bone graft. MAIN OUTCOMES/INTERVENTIONS: Time to union (primary), union rate, and functional outcomes. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were followed for 29 months; 2 were lost to final follow-up. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. The VBG group reached bone union earlier by 12 days (P = 0.002), but union rates were similar (P = 0.312). There was also less ulnar deviation in the VBG group (P = 0.03). There were no other differences between either intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the VBG group attained earlier union, this may not be clinically meaningful, nor justify the greater technical difficulty and use of resources associated with this intervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II. See instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Treatment of scaphoid nonunion with vascularised and nonvascularised dorsal bone grafting from the distal radius.

We conducted a prospective randomised study comparing the clinical, functional and radiographic results of 46 patients treated for scaphoid nonunion using a vascularised bone graft from the dorsal and distal aspect of the radius (group I), relative to 40 patients treated by means of a conventional non-vascularised bone graft from the distal radius (group II). Surgical findings included 30 sclerotic, poorly-vascularised scaphoids in group I versus 20 in group II. Bone fusion was achieved in 89.1% of group I and 72.5% of group II patients (p=0.024). Functional results were good to excellent in 72.0% of the patients in group I and 57.5% in group II. Considering only patients with sclerotic, poorly-vascularised scaphoids, the mean final outcome scores obtained were 7.5 and 6.0 for groups I and group II, respectively. We conclude that vascularised bone grafting yields superior results and is more efficient when there is a sclerotic, poorly-vascularised proximal pole in patients in scaphoid nonunion.

The effect of ultrasound on the healing of muscle-pediculated bone graft in scaphoid non-union.

The use of pedicled vascularised bone grafts from the distal radius makes it possible to transfer bone with a preserved circulation and viable osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Experiments performed at the basic science level has provided substantial evidence that low-intensity ultrasound can accelerate and augment the fracture healing process. Only an adequate double-blind trial comparing treatment by ultrasound stimulation in patients treated by similar surgical techniques can provide evidence of the true effect of ultrasound. This paper describes the results of such a trial. From 1999 to 2004, 21 fractures of the scaphoid with established non-union treated with vascularised pedicle bone graft were selected for inclusion in a double-blind trial. All patients were males, with an average age of 26.7 years (range 17-42 years) and an average interval between injury and surgery of 38.4 months (range 3 months-10 years). Low-intensity ultrasound was delivered using a TheraMed 101-B bone-growth stimulator (30 mW/cm2, 20 min/day), which was modified to accomplish double-blinding. These modifications did not affect the designated active units. The placebo units were adjusted to give no ultrasound signal output across the transducer. Externally, all units appeared identical but were marked with individual code numbers. Patients were randomly allocated to either an active or placebo stimulation. Follow-up averaged 2.3 years (range 1-4 years). All patients achieved fracture union (active and placebo groups), but compared with the placebo device (11 patients), the active device (ten patients) accelerated healing by 38 days (56+/-3.2 days compared with 94+/-4.8 days, p<0.0001, analysis of variance).

Vascular pathogenesis of limb defects. I. Radial artery anatomy in radial aplasia.

Twelve human fetuses with radial aplasia were dissected to evaluate the vasculature of the arm. Three types of vascular patterns were found. In type I there was a single midline superficial vessel with no radial or ulnar artery. This pattern occurred in four perfused twins (acardia) with twins reversed arterial perfusion sequence, one fetus with clinical trisomy 18, and one with an unknown disorder with multiple field defects. In type II there was absence of the radial artery with or without persistence of the embryonic median artery; the other vessels were normal. This pattern was seen in three fetuses with unknown disorders associated with multiple malformations. In type III the radial artery was present but had an abnormal course. This pattern was found in three fetuses with thrombocytopenia-absent radius syndrome. From these dissections and the results of animal experiments on the embryology of the vasculature, the following conclusions can be drawn. Vasculogenesis precedes differentiation of mesenchyme into muscle and bone. The embryonic capillary net determines the adult vascular anatomy of the limb. Failure to form, malformations, or disruption of the capillary net results in anomalies of the adult vasculature and may lead to musculoskeletal defects. Failure to chondrogenesis does not disturb the capillary net, and normal arteries will develop. Absence of the radial artery found in association with radial aplasia implies that there was abnormal vasculogenesis or disruption of developing vessels, or both. Either can lead to this congenital musculoskeletal defect.