The Huntington fibular transference operation was done in three patients
with tibial defects resulting from osteomyelitis and in three patients with
infected pseudarthroses. It has proved to be an ideal procedure when the
local condition of either skin or bone, or both, is not suitable for
conventional bone-grafting operations. The fibula, transferred as a pedicle
graft, hypertrophies under weight-bearing stresses, fixing the tibial
fragments and stimulating osteogenesis. The procedure is carried out in two
stages and bypasses the site of infection. It does not carry the risk of
causing a flare-up of infection and it is most suitable for young
patients.