Percutaneous epiphyseodesis.

The records of 29 patients who underwent epiphyseodesis of 56 physes in which a percutaneous (minimal incision) technique was used were reviewed. Length of surgery averaged 36 min per physis. Growth arrest was achieved in every instance. There were no cases of unplanned angular growth, no deep infections, and no difficulties in regaining full joint motion were reported. Epiphyseodesis of the proximal tibial physis was performed on 16 patients without epiphyseodesis of the proximal fibula, yet symptoms attributable to fibular overgrowth were not reported. Some technical variations that have evolved in our procedure are described.