Fibular segment bone bridging in trans-tibial amputation.

The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative method of achieving a synostosis between tibia and fibula in trans-tibial amputations by means of a fibular segment in place of tibial osteoperiosteal flaps as described by Ertl, in 1949. From May 1997 through to February 2003, 15 patients were submitted to the proposed procedure. As a result, all patients produced a solid synostosis between tibia and fibula and were rehabilitated with the use of prostheses. The capacity of these patients for distal weight-bearing on the stump was remarkable when compared to patients submitted to the conventional trans-tibial amputation technique.