We report the results of intramedullary leg lengthening conducted between 2002 and 2009 using the Intramedullary Skeletal Kinetic Distractor in 69 unilateral lengthenings involving 58 femora and 11 tibiae. We identified difficulties that occurred during the treatment and assessed whether they were specifically due to the implant or independent of it. Paley's classification for evaluating proble...

We reviewed retrospectively 22 patients (23 limb segments) with fibular hemimelia treated by amputation or limb lengthening to evaluate these methods of treatment. There were 12 boys and 10 girls, all with associated anomalies in the lower limbs. Twelve patients (13 limb segments) had early amputation and prosthetic fitting and ten had tibial lengthening using the Ilizarov technique. At the lat...

Last year’s 34th Annual Meeting of the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (EPOS) was held in Marseille, France, on 15–18 April. A comprehensive pre-meeting course held on 15 April was dedicated to many complex aspects of long-bone deformity correction and bonelengthening procedures. The present issue of the Journal of Children’s Orthopaedics collates manuscripts of the presentations made a...

Post-traumatic premature closure of the distal fibular growth plate is a rare entity leading to shortening of the lateral malleolus. We report on a 14-year old boy who presented with a 4-year history of worsening, diffuse discomfort and swelling of his left ankle, as well as fibular shortening and talar malreduction. He had sustained a distal tibial fracture 4 years earlier and had been treated...

Background and purpose - Hexapod ring fixators such as the Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) have shown good outcomes. However, there have only been a few studies comparing the use of TSF with various etiologies of the deformity. We compared the use of TSF in congenital and acquired deformities in children. Patients and methods - We reviewed 213 lower extremity reconstructive procedures with the TSF i...

BACKGROUND Previous designs of internal bone lengthening devices have been fraught with imprecise distraction, resulting in nerve injuries, joint contractures, nonunions, and other complications. Recently, a magnet-operated PRECICE nail (Ellipse Technologies, Inc, Irvine, CA, USA) was approved by the FDA; however, its clinical efficacy is unknown. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES We evaluated this nail in ...

Background. Severe fractures of the shin bones are often accompanied by formation defects in tibia, suppuration and soft tissue necrosis. In case surgical treatment fractures, infectious complications reach 3.6-9.1%. One methods infected is resection ends tibia with shortening. This operation has proven to be effective fresh fractures. The relevance work due prospects using this technique conse...