Reconstruction of Long Tibial Defect Using Free Osteocutaneos Fibular Flap in a Sub-Saharan Africa Setting

Abstract

Summary: Tibial defects present a formidable reconstructive challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings such as Sub-Saharan Africa. The application of free osteocutaneous fibular flaps has emerged as a versatile and reliable technique for addressing these complex cases. However, the specific considerations and outcomes associated with this approach in Sub-Saharan Africa remain underexplored. This case report presents a detailed account of a patient with a long tibial defect managed using a free osteocutaneous fibular flap in Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia. The surgical intervention resulted in successful reconstruction of the tibial defect, with satisfactory functional outcomes observed during the follow-up period. The use of a free fibular flap for addressing bone defects is proposed as an economically viable single-stage procedure, requiring less patient compliance. Studies on this technique in Sub-Saharan Africa are limited, but outcomes have shown comparability to those in more developed countries.