[5-year experience with De Bastiani's method of extremity lengthening].

From 1987-1991 19 patients had 20 lengthenings in 23 bones. The average hospitalisation time was 54 days. The time to lengthen one limb was 30 weeks on an average. In a retrospective study the cases were analysed according to Paley's criteria. Our complication rate is compared to that of other authors. We have to cope with a rather high rate of complications. 17 out of 19 patients showed good or very good final results.