Absence of the fibula after harvesting to reconstruct an upper-limb segment increases loads on the donor-side tibia and thereby
provides a unique opportunity to analyze the bone adaptation process in humans. We therefore quantified densitometric and
morphologic changes of the donor-side tibia in three young patients (ages 8, 13, 16 years), on the basis of computed tomography
(CT) examinations of both legs (one preoperatively and two postoperatively). The range of final followup was 27–43 months.
Three-dimensional models of shank bones were generated from CT data and used to measure cross-sectional area, diaphyseal cortical
thickness, and cross-sectional moment of inertia. In addition, density of the newly formed bone was evaluated. The donor-side
tibia showed morphologic and density adaptation with time. New bone was deposited predominantly in the interosseous space
and almost replaced the bone area lost by excision of the fibula. The second moment of area grew more in the donor-side tibia
than in the intact one, without fully recovering the contralateral tibia-fibula complex values, and the principal axes rotated
toward the preoperative direction. Thus, while considerable adaptation had occurred by 27–43 months in these young patients,
the adaptation was incomplete; the mineral density of the newly formed bone recovered normal cortical bone values only in
the patient with the longest followup (43 months).
Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
One or more of the authors (MM) have received funding from the AIRC (Associazione Italana per la Ricerca sul Cancro) Foundation.
Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved or waived approval for the human protocol for this investigation,
that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation
in the study was obtained.