Guided growth in children and adolescents. Correction of leg length discrepancies and leg axis deformities

• Published in: Der Orthopäde 2014-03, Vol.43 (3), p.267
• Main Authors: Vogt, B, Schiedel, F, Rödl, R
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Adolescent; Arthroscopy - methods; Bone Malalignment - diagnostic imaging; Bone Malalignment - etiology; Bone Malalignment - physiopathology; Bone Malalignment - surgery; Child; Epiphyses - diagnostic imaging; Epiphyses - physiopathology; Epiphyses - surgery; Female; Genu Valgum - diagnostic imaging; Genu Valgum - etiology; Genu Valgum - physiopathology; Genu Valgum - surgery; Genu Varum - diagnostic imaging; Genu Varum - etiology; Genu Varum - physiopathology; Genu Varum - surgery; Humans; Leg Length Inequality - diagnostic imaging; Leg Length Inequality - etiology; Leg Length Inequality - physiopathology; Leg Length Inequality - surgery; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Orthopedic Procedures - methods; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Prostheses and Implants; Radiography; Risk Factors; Weight-Bearing - physiology
• ISSN: 1433-0431
• DOI: 10.1007/s00132-014-2270-x

The treatment of crooked legs and unequal leg length is one of the key tasks of orthopedic surgery. While mature patients usually require complex and invasive surgical interventions, the growth potential of the physes can be used to advantage for correction of these leg length discrepancies and axis deformities of the legs in growing children and adolescents. This guided growth is induced by temporary or permanent and partial or complete arrest of the growth plate, depending on the indications. This technique is called epiphysiodesis. Although these procedures are principally less invasive with few complications, accurate preoperative indications and planning, precise surgical techniques and careful postoperative follow-up examinations are mandatory prerequisites to achieve the desired therapeutic target.