Vascular medullary patency in free vascularized bone grafts: CT scan experimental study.

In an experimental study using 13 mongrel adult dogs, 6 cm of the anterior part of the left ninth rib were harvested, including the posterior intercostal vessels. The grafts were transferred, based on the periosteal circulation alone, to a previously induced femoral head ischemic necrosis. Microsurgical anastomoses were performed between the posterior intercostal vascular bundle and the caudal gluteal vessels at the recipient thigh zone. Using a high resolution CT scan and morphologic evaluation, it was demonstrated that the medullary circulation network filled on contrast medium. The entire cortex and medullary cavity were supplied from endosteal vessels coming from a reversed periosteal blood flow.