Lengthening of the tibia over an intramedullary nail, using the Ilizarov external fixator : Major complications and slow consolidation in 9 lengthenings

We lengthened 9 tibial segments over a nail to reduce the time in the external fixator in 5 patients with constitutional shortness. The median lengthening was 7 (5.5-7.3) cm and the external Ilizarov frame was removed after median 99 (63-125) days. In spite of a short time in the external fixator, c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta orthopaedica Scandinavica 1999-06, Vol.70 (3), p.271-274
Main Authors: KRISTIANSEN, L. P, STEEN, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Achilles Tendon - surgery
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Body Height
Bone Nails - adverse effects
Bone Screws
Bone Transplantation
External Fixators - adverse effects
Female
Humans
Ilizarov Technique - adverse effects
Ilizarov Technique - instrumentation
Male
Medical sciences
Orthopedic surgery
Osteomyelitis - etiology
Prosthesis Failure
Radiography
Reoperation - statistics & numerical data
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Surgical Wound Infection - etiology
Tibia - diagnostic imaging
Tibia - surgery
Time Factors
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Summary:We lengthened 9 tibial segments over a nail to reduce the time in the external fixator in 5 patients with constitutional shortness. The median lengthening was 7 (5.5-7.3) cm and the external Ilizarov frame was removed after median 99 (63-125) days. In spite of a short time in the external fixator, consolidation was slow, with a median lengthening index of 4.4 (2.4-6.1) months/cm. The procedure resulted in 3 fatigue fractures of the intramedullary nail or interlocking screws that needed revision and bone grafting. In 1 patient, a deep intramedullary infection occurred. After the experience of these major complications we have returned to the traditional callotasis lengthening method described by Ilizarov.
ISSN:0001-6470
DOI:10.3109/17453679908997806