Septic arthritis and osteomyelitis of the wrist: Reconstruction with a vascularized fibular graft

A case of spontaneous staphylococcus arthritis of the wrist with associated carpal and distal radius osteomyelitis is reported. Following sequential debridements and a 6-week course of parenteral antibiotics, an extensive defect was bridged with a vascularized fibular autograft to achieve a successful fusion. There was no donor site morbidity or recurrent infection. Follow-up radiographs 41 months later demonstrated complete incorporation and hypertrophy of the graft. (J Hand Surg 1999;24A:243–248. Copyright © 1999 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.)