Articles | Volume 11, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-11-579-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-11-579-2026
Original full-length article
 | 
15 Sep 2026
Original full-length article |  | 15 Sep 2026

Long-term outcomes of vascularized fibular grafting for infected non-union of the lower limb: a competing-risk analysis

Anne Le Hir, Piseth Seng, David Delarbre, Romain Ambrosino, Najib Kachouh, Régis Legré, and Andreas Stein

Cited articles

Cicero-Álvarez, A., León-Hernández, S. R., Gutiérrez-Enríquez, K., and Zapata-Rivera, S.: [Prognostic factors for post surgical complications in bone infection and pseudarthrosis], Acta Ortop. Mex., 30, 236–240, 2016. 
Feltri, P., Solaro, L., Errani, C., Schiavon, G., Candrian, C., and Filardo, G.: Vascularized fibular grafts for the treatment of long bone defects: pros and cons. A systematic review and meta-analysis, Arch. Orthop. Trauma Surg., 143, 29–48, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-03962-5, 2023. 
Giovanoulis, V., Koutserimpas, C., Lepidas, N., Vasiliadis, A. V., Batailler, C., Ferry, T., and Lustig, S.: Restoring the Anatomy of Long Bones with Large Septic Non-Union Defects with the Masquelet Technique, Maedica, 18, 413–419, https://doi.org/10.26574/maedica.2023.18.3.413, 2023. 
Govaert, G. A. M., Kuehl, R., Atkins, B. L., Trampuz, A., Morgenstern, M., Obremskey, W. T., Verhofstad, M. H. J., McNally, M. A., Metsemakers, W.-J., and Fracture-Related Infection (FRI) Consensus Group: Diagnosing Fracture-Related Infection: Current Concepts and Recommendations, J. Orthop. Trauma, 34, 8–17, https://doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0000000000001614, 2020. 
Jensen, S. S., Jensen, N. M., Gundtoft, P. H., Kold, S., Zura, R., and Viberg, B.: Risk factors for nonunion following surgically managed, traumatic, diaphyseal fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis, EFORT Open Rev., 7, 516–525, https://doi.org/10.1530/EOR-21-0137, 2022. 
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Short summary
Serious bone infections can stop broken bones from healing and may lead to limb loss. We studied 22 people treated with a transplant of living bone from another part of the body to save the affected limb. Almost three-quarters achieved bone healing and infection control, although recovery often took many months, and a few patients still required amputation. Some patients required an additional bone graft. Long-term follow-up is essential when evaluating this treatment.
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