title: The Ilizarov apparatus in the treatment of congenital dysmetria of the leg.
abstract: The effectiveness of the treatment of congenital leg length discrepancy depends on careful evaluation and selection before embarking on a programme of treatment. Over the years several types of surgery have been used to correct leg length discrepancy, starting with Codivilla (1905), who performed osteotomy followed by gradual transcalcaneal traction. This was succeeded by external fixators of various kinds. Unknown to most of the Western world, the Russian surgeon Ilizarov devised in 1950 an external fixation device which because of its mechanical and biological features could be applied to many orthopaedic and traumatological conditions. Since 1983 we have used this for the treatment of congenital dysmetria of the lower limbs resulting in leg length discrepancy.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Recupero Funzionale, CTO, Firenze.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canuti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valenti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D013997:Time Factors