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Lower limb lengthening helped improve alignment in patient of short stature
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Recently published data indicated the Ilizarov ring is a safe for limb lengthening in patients with a short stature and it improves the patient’s self-confidence and psychological status.
Researchers included 50 patients with a short stature who underwent limb lengthening surgery using the Ilizarov ring device. Patients were clinically evaluated for height, relation to leg length to trunk length and arm span and lower limb joint range of motion (ROM). Researchers instructed all patients to clean pins two times a week with povidone-iodine solution.
After 10 postoperative days, device nuts were turned manually three times daily in all patients, so that they reached 0.75 mm daily lengthening. After 3 weeks, lengthening was increased to 1 mm daily once the surgeon evaluated the new bone formation.
At the follow-up visits, investigators evaluated pin sites, performed joint examinations and assessed patient complaints. At 3 to 4 week intervals, patients were radiographically assessed for the quality of regenerated bone and signs of pin loosening and tibial and fibular length was measured.
After treatment, patients were able to walk with walkers or crutches and weight bear and they underwent physiotherapy to increase muscle strength. After frame removal, researchers evaluated all patients via email, phone calls and clinical visits concerning joint ROM, radiological consolidation and alignment.
The average length of treatment with the frame was 231 days and an average 6.9 cm lengthening was achieved, however at the final follow-up patients lost 3° to 10° ankle dorsiflexion.
According patients reported no postoperative pain, 32 patients reported pain during the lengthening phase, especially when lengthening was increased from 4 cm to 5 cm.
At the most recent follow-up, all patients had excellent alignment; however one patient needed additional surgery. All patients with the exception of one were satisfied with final results. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Elbatrawy reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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