Transfer of free vascularized bone and skin-bone autografts: experiences in the application of external fixation apparatus.

The results of transfer of free vascularized bone and skin-bone autografts in 95 patients with defects (54) and nonunions (41) of tubular bones of different genesis are presented. In 71 cases, an external fixation apparatus was used for purposes of osteosynthesis. In 50 cases, the Ilizarov apparatus was applied prior to osteoplasty to correct deformity and fully or partially to correct a shortening of the extremity bone segment. In seven cases, lengthening of the bone segment was performed using an external fixation apparatus after osteoplastic reconstruction of the defect. Treatment was completed in 76 cases (80.0 percent); of these, the outcome was positive in 89.5 percent of cases. Failure was recorded in 10.5 percent of cases. The advantages of using an external fixation apparatus in combination with vascularized bone and osteocutaneous autografts are discussed.