Maxfacts

Femur

Postoperative problems affecting the femur (long bone in the thigh) are rare because it's rarely used for reconstructive purposes in maxillofacial surgery.

• The periosteum (dense layer of tissue enveloping the bone) has been used as a vascularised flap in managing osteoradionecrosis. Only known problem is a scar on the thigh.
• The outer cortex of the distal (bottom end) of the femur can be used as a vascularised bone flap. The blood vessels used are non-essential to the leg. Pain is minimal and no fractures have been reported but the amount of bone harvested is very small. The vessels are exceptionally short and small, often necessitating intraoral microsurgery. Performed in only a handful of specialised centres where the head of department has been instrumental in developing the technique.