title: Effect on knee flexion of a modification to the surgical technique of pin placement during femoral lengthening.
abstract: Loss of knee movement is a common problem in femoral lengthening. Two groups of 10 children were compared: one group lengthened by the Ilizarov technique using a standard method and one group in whom the technique was modified to incorporate a different method for determining the pin placement. Loss of knee flexion was compared between the two groups. A significant difference in the total loss of flexion ( <0.002), and in the amount of knee flexion, at the end of lengthening ( <0.001) and at 6 months after frame removal ( <0.004) was observed. This simple modification to surgical technique appears to decrease the knee flexion lost in children undergoing femoral lengthening by the Ilizarov method.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Hamish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001858:Bone Nails; D002648:Child; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome