title: [Callotasis for segmental bone defects in the femur].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical efficacy of callotasis for pathological segmental defects in child femur.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients with segmental femoral defects suffered from suppurative osteomyelitis were treated with the bilateral, unilateral external fixation frame or intramedullary callotasis. The rolongational rate was from 2 to 2.5 cm per month after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a 13 to 57 month follow-up, all cases were healed according to clinical examination and radiological observation. The prolongational length ranged from 9 to 31 centimeters. Average ratio of prolongation reached 49%. The healing index was 30 d/cm, and the healing time of non-union was 134 days. No recurrent suppurative osteomyelitis or fracture was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Callotasis is a reliable, simple and hyperadaptable method for femural segmental defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiang-sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000379:methods*; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000601:surgery*; D013492:Suppuration