title: [External skeletal compression fixation and lengthening for shortened limb with non-union and deformity].
abstract: From Oct. 1982 to Dec. 1988, external skeletal compression fixator of half-ring sulcated type was used on 12 patients, aged 8 to 12, for treatment of shortened leg with non-union and bone defect, 7 of which were in tibia and 5 in femur. Scar tissue between fragment ends that interfered contact was cleared off for proper apposition and stability. 12 the non-union healed up in 4 to 6 months. In 5 patients with open epiphyses, distraction epiphysiolysis for lengthening was simultaneously performed in addition to compression at the non-union site; the lengths gained range from 4 to 13.5 cm, with an average of 9.8 cm. The lengthened region got repaired with in-growing bone in 5 to 10 months. In 7 patients with closed epiphyses; metamyseal osteotomy was done in combination for lengthening too; the lengths obtained were 3 to 16 cm, averaging 7.8 cm. The distraction gap was obliterated by in-growing bone in 4 to 16 months. In one case, metaphyseal osteotomy was performed on both ends of the tibia to get longer length to make up the tibial shaft defect of 8 cm; both non-union and lengthening segments healed up in 6 months. Neither neural nor vascular damage has occurred in any case, advantages and indications of the operation was discussed, and the surgical procedure was described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical College, Chongqing.
authors.forename: Q H
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*