Vascular and Bone Regeneration of the Donor Site After Corticoperiosteal Flap From the Medial Femoral Condyle

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and regeneration of descending genicular artery and bone on the donor site, the medial condyle of the femur, after harvesting the corticoperiosteal flap and to report the clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes of the treatment of atrophic nonunions of upper limb with corticoperiosteal vascularized flap at 5-year follow-up. Methods: From January 2011 to January 2018, 36 patients (average age of 45.8 years) were enrolled and evaluated with clinical and radiographic follow-up (average time of 66 months). In 20 patients, magnetic resonance angiography was also performed preoperatively and postoperatively to investigate the fate of the descending genicular artery after harvesting the corticoperiosteal flap. Results: Radiographic evaluation demonstrated a success rate of 94.4% (average time of bone healing of 5.2 months). At the recipient site, clinical evaluation showed excellent results in 75% to 80% of cases, and at the donor site, no statistical differences were found between before and after surgery clinical condition. In all patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, images showed a complete recovery of the blood supply of the medial femoral condyle. Conclusions: Medial condyle corticoperiosteal flap represents a valid choice for the treatment of upper limb nonunions. This technique brings a very low morbidity on the donor site, with complete restoration of blood supply and bone tissue. The limit of this flap is its low mechanical support, which suggests performing this technique especially for the treatment of upper limb nonunions.