Guided growth for the treatment of limb length discrepancy: a comparative study of the three most commonly used surgical techniques.

The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and effectiveness of three mechanical devices (percutaneous transphyseal screws, tension band plates, and staples) for the correction of limb length discrepancies in growing children and adolescents. Thirty-nine consecutive patients treated with epiphysiodesis for limb length discrepancy were retrospectively reviewed. No significant difference was recorded between the three devices in postoperative limb length discrepancy or the rate of correction between the plating and stapling groups and between plating and percutaneous transphyseal screws groups. Epiphysiodesis for length discrepancies can be performed effectively using staples, tension band plates, or percutaneous transphyseal screws.