Fibula-pro-tibia transfer with external fixator after tibia fracture with extensive bone defect: a case report

A 27-year-old girl suffered a tibial fracture with an extensive bone defect due to a major trauma. At first, she was treated with a plate with the purpose to obtain a fibula-pro-tibia transfer, without any improvement. At one-year-follow up, a non-union due to mechanical hardware failure was shown by x-ray. Thus, a second surgery was performed: the ipsilateral fibula was tightly wedged between the preserved proximal and distal third of tibia with an external fixator. We report a follow up of 1 year after the reconstruction that allowed a good bone healing and a remodeling with also further ossification of the periosteal sheath of the fibula.