Limb lengthening and three-dimensional deformity corrections. A retrospective clinical study.

Different methods of limb lengthening as used at the Orthopedic Surgery Clinic of the Medical School, University of Zagreb, are compared. The results of operations performed between 1979 and 1989 on 111 patients are presented. These patients were subjected to surgery aimed at length equalization of limbs and/or correction of three-dimensional deformities. Lengthening was performed in 104 patients at one level, and in 7 patients at two levels of the same limb for a total of 118 procedures. In order to compare limb lengthening techniques the patients were divided into four groups: group I, original Wagner technique (45 patients); group II, Wagner technique using corticotomy (33 patients); group III, original Ilizarov technique (35 patients); group IV, continuous lengthening (2 patients). The evaluation covered radiological aspects of regenerated bone, complications and basic lengthening parameters. The results indicate that corticotomy has considerable advantages over osteotomy, provided bone circulation is maintained. These advantages manifest themselves in a reduced number of operations, lower incidence of infection and improved bone regeneration. It is preferable to perform corticotomy at the metaphysis site because of its optimum blood supply and its higher potential for osteogenesis. With corticotomy performed at the diaphysis site, satisfactory results were observed in only one-third of the cases.