Case report reveals effective treatment of complex forearm nonunions using double corticoperiosteal flaps, suggesting new options for recalcitrant cases.
Background: Forearm nonunions represent a challenging clinical condition that significantly impairs upper limb function. Various surgical techniques have been proposed, including vascularized bone grafts. Although these procedures are not considered first-line treatment, they play a crucial role in complex or recalcitrant cases, particularly after failure of conventional methods, where their superior biological potential can significantly enhance bone healing. Despite the widespread use of the medial femoral condyle corticoperiosteal flap, simultaneous bilateral harvest has not been previously described in the literature. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 50-year-old male presenting with persistent nonunions of both the radius and ulna following previous osteosynthesis and revision surgery with iliac crest bone graft. The patient was successfully treated using bilateral vascularized corticoperiosteal free flaps harvested from both medial femoral condyles. Conclusions: Double vascularized corticoperiosteal free flaps may represent an effective and reliable option for the treatment of complex forearm nonunions, especially in cases with multiple previous surgical failures. To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the first report of simultaneous bilateral medial femoral condyle corticoperiosteal flap harvest.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Guzzini et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: