The regeneration at non vascularized fibular harvest site and development of ankle valgus in donor leg-investigations done over two time points.

INTRODUCTION: We retrospectively observed the fibular regeneration in non vascularized harvest in children and development of ankle valgus at 2 time points to find any possible relationship between them.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 6 month period was chosen as the first time frame to assess regeneration and ankle valgus. Radiographs at this time and a subsequent follow up were studied for regeneration, lateral distal tibial ankle (LDTA) and fibular station. The donor sites were divided into complete and incomplete regeneration groups and compared statistically.
RESULTS: There were 12 patients with 18 harvested fibulae. Ten out of 18 fibulae (56%) had complete longitudinal regenerate at 6 months. Two fibulae underwent delayed union. Of 8 incomplete regenerates at 6 months, 6 (75%) were also incomplete beyond a follow up of 2.75 years. Incomplete group had radiological ankle valgus in 6 legs (75%) at 6 months increased to 7 at follow up. Further, LDTA for incomplete group was significantly lower than complete group (p = 0.025) at 6 months.
CONCLUSIONS: More than half of harvested legs (56%) had complete longitudinal fibular regeneration at 6 months. Of incomplete regenerates at 6 months, three fourth remained so beyond 2.5 years. Ankle valgus was found strongly related to long standing fibular non regeneration. Radiological ankle valgus developed early in the incomplete regenerate group.