Congenital tibial deficiencies: treatment using the Ilizarov's external fixator.
BACKGROUND
Congenital longitudinal deficiency of the tibia is a rare and often syndromic anomaly. Amputation is usually the preferred treatment option in complete absence of the tibia; however, a conservative management might be implemented in partial forms or in case of amputation refusal. Our experience with the Ilizarov fixator, convinced us this device was the best suited for progressive correction of lower limbs length discrepancies and articular or bone angular limb deformities (ALD). The aim of this study is to highlight the interest of the Ilizarov fixator in the multistage conservative treatment of congenital tibial deficiencies.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted in nine patients suffering from Type I or II congenital tibial deficiencies (Jones) and sequentially managed using the Ilizarov technique. The functional outcome after treatment completion was then clinically assessed.


RESULTS
The different stages of correction were recorded for each individual patient. Patients were assessed at a mean follow-up of 18,3 years (4-32 years). The mean maximum knee flexion was 35 degrees (0 degrees -90 degrees ) in type I deficiencies and 118 degrees (90 degrees -140 degrees ) in type II deficiencies. One patient underwent amputation and a bilateral knee arthrodesis was performed in another case.


CONCLUSIONS
Few series in the literature report a comparable length of follow-up period in the conservative management of severe congenital tibial deficiencies. In our study, the Ilizarov fixator provided satisfactory progressive corrections of severe congenital tibial deficiencies.


METHODS
Level IV therapeutic retrospective study.
Courvoisier
A
A
Department of Paediatric Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pierre et Marie Curie university Paris 6, Armand Trousseau Hospital, 26, avenue du Docteur-Arnold-Netter, 75571 Paris cedex 12, France. acourvoisier@chu-grenoble.fr
Sailhan
F
F
Thevenin-Lemoine
C
C
Vialle
R
R
Damsin
J -P
J-
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique; D007223:Infant; D038061:Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*