The transfibular approach for distal tibial osteochondroma: an alternative technique for excision.

Surgical excision of osteochondromata occurring at the lateral aspect of the distal tibia is hampered by the difficult access to this area. Current techniques use an anterior approach, but this makes access to the posterior aspect of the tibia difficult. The authors report on 2 cases in which removal, and subsequent replacement of distal fibula and fixation with a semitubular plate, allowed complete excision of a distal tibial osteochondroma and satisfactory outcomes. This procedure provides an alternative technique to the anterior approach previously described. The literature appears to contain no similar previous reports. The Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery 42(2):95-8, 2003.