title: A technique for correction of equinus contracture using a wire fixator and elastic tension.
abstract: Equinus contracture often is a complication of trauma, burns, or neurologic deficit. Many patients with contractures secondary to trauma or burns have poor soft tissue, which makes invasive correction a less appealing option. The Ilizarov external fixator has been used as a less invasive attempt to correct equinus contracture. We describe our "dynamic" technique and present a clinical patient series using a variation of the unconstrained Ilizarov technique, which uses elastic bands rather than threaded rods to supply the corrective force.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: J Stuart
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Melvin
authors.forename: Laurence E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dahners
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001864:Bone Wires; D004863:Equinus Deformity / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016267:External Fixators; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular