Monitoring island flap for fibular graft in 30 patients with long bone defects.

Objective: To study the effect of vascularized fibular graft on large defects of long bones and the monitoring method for the vascular status of the grafted fibula.

Methods: From March 1988 to February 1998, 30 patients with long bone defects over 6 cm in length received vascularized fibular graft including a monitoring island flap in our department to monitor the blood circulation of the fibulae.

Results: Monitoring island abnormalities were indicated in 6 flaps, which accurately gave the alarm of the circulation crisis of the fibular graft.