title: Progressive forearm lengthening with an intramedullary guidewire in children: report of 10 cases.
abstract: Indications for forearm lengthening are rare. Between 1994 and 1999, 10 forearm lengthenings were performed in seven children for functional reasons and/or esthetic discomfort. Only one of the two forearm bones was involved in the procedure in all cases. The technique consisted of a transverse osteotomy and progressive distraction after intramedullary nailing. When a bone axis correction was needed, it was performed with a substraction osteotomy in the initial osteotomy site. The distraction device was removed when bone healing was achieved. The authors noted the various complications and assessed the amount of elongation, bone healing, and potential bone axis deviation. Mean follow-up was 4.5 years. Mean elongation was 30.8 mm. Four bone grafts were needed for delayed union. No bone axis deviation was noted. An initial axial correction osteotomy allows an easier lengthening procedure. Use of an intramedullary wire avoids axis deviation. This technique can be helpful in malformative pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Orthopédie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Enfants La Timone, Marseille, France. francklaunay@wanadoo.fr
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Launay
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jouve
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viehweger
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guillaume
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacquemier
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bollini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D011884:Radius / Q000002:abnormalities; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing