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Published in: International Orthopaedics 1/2012

01-01-2012 | Original Paper

Tibial lengthening over an intramedullary nail in patients with short stature or leg-length discrepancy: a comparative study

Authors: Qianchen Guo, Tao Zhang, Yongfa Zheng, Shiqing Feng, Xinlong Ma, Feng Zhao

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to review our experiences with tibial lengthening over an intramedullary nail in comparison to the conventional Ilizarov method.

Methods

We performed a retrospective comparison of tibial lengthening using the conventional Ilizarov method (group A: 23 limbs in 13 patients) versus over a nail (group B: 51 limbs in 26 patients). The percentage increase in tibial length, lengthening index, external fixation index, consolidation index and complications were assessed.

Results

The mean gain in tibial length was 7.4 cm, which represents a mean increase of 26.0%. There was no difference in lengthening index or consolidation index; however, the patients in group A wore the external fixator longer than those in group B (281.5 versus 129.0 days), which represents a larger external fixation index (40.0 versus 17.4 day/cm). Group A had a higher complication rate (1.0 versus 0.47 per tibia) than group B.

Conclusions

Tibial lengthening over an intramedullary nail confers advantages over the conventional Ilizarov method, including shorter time needed for external fixation and lower complication rates.
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Metadata
Title
Tibial lengthening over an intramedullary nail in patients with short stature or leg-length discrepancy: a comparative study
Authors
Qianchen Guo
Tao Zhang
Yongfa Zheng
Shiqing Feng
Xinlong Ma
Feng Zhao
Publication date
01-01-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Orthopaedics / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1246-2

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