title: Complications and outcome of tibial lengthening using the Ilizarov method with or without a supplementary intramedullary nail: a case-matched comparative study.
abstract: We compared the complications and outcome of tibial lengthening using the Ilizarov method with and without the use of a supplementary intramedullary nail. In a retrospective case-matched series assembled from 176 patients with tibial lengthening, we matched 52 patients (26 pairs, group A with nail and group B without) according to the following criteria in order of importance: 1) difference in amount of lengthening (± 2 cm); 2) percentage difference in lengthening (± 5%); 3) difference in patient's age (± seven years); 4) aetiology of the shortening, and 5) level of difficulty in obtaining the correction. The outcome was evaluated using the external fixator index, the healing index and an outcome score according to the criteria of Paley. It was found that some complications were specific to group A or B respectively, but others were common to both groups. The outcome was generally better in lengthenings with a nail, although there was a higher incidence of rectifiable equinus deformity in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital, No. 156 Second West Ring Road, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China.
authors.forename: X-T
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Easwar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manesh
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: S-H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: S-J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H-R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001858:Bone Nails; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D007719:Knee Joint; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult