[Risk of fracture of regenerated bone and metal implant following bone lengthening osteotomy].

Many problems may arise, jeopardize and spoil the outcome of lengthening osteotomies. Fracture of the plate and the newly formed bone bridging the gap between the fragments is only one of the possible complications. Overload is its cause in all the cases. Following the theory of Pauwels the paper analyses the high stresses in hollow bone and the relationship to their principles of construction. Accurate knowledge of bone stressing and correct assessment of bone strength in the X-rays may help to reduce the incidence of fatigue fractures after limb lengthening.