title: Growth patterns after lengthening of congenitally short lower limbs in young children.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess growth patterns after lengthening of the congenitally short femur or tibia in children younger than 6 years. Twenty such children underwent 28 bone segment lengthenings (13 femora and 15 tibiae) by distraction osteogenesis. Our results show that femoral lengthening in children younger than 6 years does not lead to growth inhibition, whereas isolated femoral lengthening may be associated with growth stimulation. Isolated tibial lengthening in children younger than 6 years does not lead to growth inhibition, whereas simultaneous femoral and tibial lengthening or two tibial lengthenings in close succession can lead to tibial growth inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Maryland Center for Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabharwal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhave
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Herzenberg
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013977:Tibia / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000601:surgery