Impact of Fixation Methods on Long-Term Bone Graft Hypertrophy in Free Fibular Flap Transfer: Analysis of 51 Lower-Limb Reconstructions

The authors aimed to investigate how different fixation methods affect long-term bone graft hypertrophy in free fibular flap transfers for lower-limb reconstruction. Their analysis of 51 patients revealed that locking compression plates (LCP) resulted in the highest mean hypertrophy ratios, with dynamic compression plates (DCP) also showing significant benefits compared to external skeletal fixators (ESF). Additionally, the study found that hypertrophy continued to progress beyond two years, particularly in younger patients, suggesting the potential advantages of these fixation methods in pediatric cases.