The anatomic basis of transplantation of vascularized fibular head for rebuilding medial and lateral malleolus

Objective: To provide anatomic basis for rebuilding medial and lateral malleolus with vascularized fibular head. Methods: Figures of fibular head, medial and lateral malleolus were measured on 60 adult dry specimens of tibia and fibula. Results: Comparing the figures of fibular head to those of lateral malleolus, the average value of the maximum diameters was 7.3±0.9 cm at fibular head and 6.7±0.6 cm at lateral malleolus. The average width was 1.4±0.2 cm at articular surface of fibular head and 1.6±0.2 cm at lateral malleolus. The average length was 1.5±0.2 cm at articular surface of fibular head and 2.0±0.2 cm at lateral malleolus. The average angle was 144°±11°between two articular surfaces of fibular head and 162°±10° between lateral malleolus. The average angle was 173°±7°between fibula and fibular head, and 171°±6°between fibula and lateral malleolus. The average width and length were 1.3±0.2 cm at articular surface of medial malleolus. Conclusions: The figure of fibular head is similar to that of lateral malleolus, so it is feasible to rebuild lateral malleolus by using vascularized fibular head. But the figure of fibular head is different from that of medial malleolus,so it is unfeasible to rebuild medial malleolus.