Integrated Bone and Ligamentous Reconstruction of the Distal Radius After Oncologic Resection: Proximal Fibular Autograft Combined with Distal Oblique Bundle Reconstruction
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Surgical Indications and Contraindications
- •
- Young or active patient with high functional demand;
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- Requirement to preserve forearm rotation and wrist mobility;
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- Absence of advanced radiocarpal or distal radioulnar joint degeneration.
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- Extensive carpal involvement precluding autologous reconstruction;
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- Severe preexisting distal radioulnar joint arthritis;
- •
- Inability to comply with prolonged immobilization and rehabilitation.
2.3. Surgical Technique
2.3.1. Preoperative Imaging Assessment
2.3.2. Preoperative Biopsy and Histopathological Confirmation
2.3.3. Resection Principles and Surgical Approach
2.3.4. Fibular Graft Harvest and Preparation
2.3.5. Donor Site Stabilization and Lateral Collateral Ligament Reconstruction
2.3.6. Fixation Technique and Graft Positioning
2.3.7. Distal Oblique Bundle Reconstruction
2.3.8. Intraoperative Assessment and Postoperative Management
2.3.9. Technical Pearls and Pitfalls
- •
- Careful identification and protection of the common peroneal nerve during graft harvest is essential to minimize traction-related neuropraxia.
- •
- Accurate intraoperative measurement of the resected radial segment is critical. Even small discrepancies in graft length may significantly alter wrist biomechanics. An excessively long graft may increase radiocarpal compression and dorsal carpal translation, whereas an undersized graft may result in positive ulnar variance and ulnar-sided wrist pain.
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- Correct rotational alignment of the fibular head is important to approximate the curvature of the native distal radius and to optimize carpal articulation.
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- Restoration of neutral ulnar variance prior to distal oblique bundle fixation is critical to avoid over-tensioning.
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- In this technique, the tendon graft was fixed to the ulna using a suture anchor rather than a transosseous tunnel.
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- An anteroposterior bone tunnel was created in the fibular graft just distal to where the sigmoid notch should have been, allowing the graft to pass obliquely toward the ulnar anchor.
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- The tunnel position relative to the reconstructed articular surface is critical (placement too proximal may compromise articular support, whereas placement too distal may reduce the stabilizing vector of the distal oblique bundle).
- •
- Anchor fixation on the ulna should be positioned slightly proximal to the level of the graft tunnel to reproduce the native oblique orientation of the distal interosseous membrane.
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- The tendon graft should be tensioned with the forearm in neutral rotation to prevent rotational over-constraint.
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- Temporary radioulnar stabilization may be considered in cases with residual laxity after reconstruction, particularly when soft tissue tension remains uncertain (for example when dorsal capsule resection was performed)
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- Early radiographic surveillance is recommended to detect subtle radiocarpal instability and to allow prompt intervention if alignment changes occur.
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- Donor-site knee stability must be restored through appropriate reinsertion of the lateral collateral ligament and biceps femoris tendon with adequate tension and secure anchor fixation, followed by protected postoperative immobilization.
3. Results
3.1. Early Postoperative Course
3.2. Functional Evolution
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| GCT | Giant Cell Tumor |
| DRUJ | Distal Radioulnar Joint |
| DOB | Distal Oblique Bundle |
| MSTS | Musculoskeletal Tumor Society |
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| Campanacci Grade | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Grade I | Intracompartmental lesions, well delineated, with sclerotic margins and an intact outer cortex, without significant expansion. |
| Grade II | Active lesions, with relatively clear margins and no evident perilesional sclerosis, associated with cortical thinning and bone deformity, without invasion of the surrounding soft tissues. |
| Grade III | Aggressive tumors, with extracortical invasion into soft tissues, indistinct margins, and marked compromise of bone architecture. |
| Parameter | Immediate Postoperative | 1 Month | 3 Months | 9 Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Function | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Emotional acceptance | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Hand positioning | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Manual dexterity | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Lifting ability | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total (Percentage) | 8 (26.7%) | 9 (30.0%) | 10 (33.3%) | 24 (80%) |
| Motion | Range (Degrees) | Normal ROM (Degrees) | Percentage of Normal (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrist flexion | 30 | 80 | 37.5 |
| Wrist extension | 45 | 70 | 64.3 |
| Pronation | 55 | 80 | 68.8 |
| Supination | 65 | 80 | 81.3 |
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© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
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Dmour, A.; Puha, B.; Enescu, G.; Carp, A.-C.; Dmour, B.-A.; Tîrnovanu, Ș.-D.; Popescu, D.-C.; Savin, L.; Forna, N.; Pinteala, T.; et al. Integrated Bone and Ligamentous Reconstruction of the Distal Radius After Oncologic Resection: Proximal Fibular Autograft Combined with Distal Oblique Bundle Reconstruction. Life 2026, 16, 370. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030370
Dmour A, Puha B, Enescu G, Carp A-C, Dmour B-A, Tîrnovanu Ș-D, Popescu D-C, Savin L, Forna N, Pinteala T, et al. Integrated Bone and Ligamentous Reconstruction of the Distal Radius After Oncologic Resection: Proximal Fibular Autograft Combined with Distal Oblique Bundle Reconstruction. Life. 2026; 16(3):370. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030370
Chicago/Turabian StyleDmour, Awad, Bogdan Puha, George Enescu, Adrian-Claudiu Carp, Bianca-Ana Dmour, Ștefan-Dragoș Tîrnovanu, Dragoș-Cristian Popescu, Liliana Savin, Norin Forna, Tudor Pinteala, and et al. 2026. "Integrated Bone and Ligamentous Reconstruction of the Distal Radius After Oncologic Resection: Proximal Fibular Autograft Combined with Distal Oblique Bundle Reconstruction" Life 16, no. 3: 370. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030370
APA StyleDmour, A., Puha, B., Enescu, G., Carp, A.-C., Dmour, B.-A., Tîrnovanu, Ș.-D., Popescu, D.-C., Savin, L., Forna, N., Pinteala, T., Veliceasa, B., & Sirbu, P.-D. (2026). Integrated Bone and Ligamentous Reconstruction of the Distal Radius After Oncologic Resection: Proximal Fibular Autograft Combined with Distal Oblique Bundle Reconstruction. Life, 16(3), 370. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030370

