title: Guided growth with the tension band plate construct: a prospective comparison of 2 methods of implant placement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since its introduction in 2007, the use of 8-plates has gained great popularity for the correction of diverse deformities in skeletally immature patients. In this study, we evaluate 2 different techniques of implant placement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of patients with indication of guided growth around the knee (femur or tibia) were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided in 2 groups, with 8-plate inserted using technique as described by Stevens (group A) versus technique modified from Paley (group B). We analyzed operative time, radiation exposure, incision size, and intraoperative complications. Comparisons between groups were performed with a Mann-Whitney test. A 2-tailed P-value <0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated a total of 31 procedures in 18 patients (16 in group A and 15 in group B). Age and sex was similar in both groups (P=0.470 and 0.720). Operative time and radiation exposure was significantly lower in group B: 20 minutes (range, 11.37 to 29.30 min) versus 13.09 minutes (range, 9.31 to 25 min) (P 0.009), and 0.30 µGy (range, 0.10 to 1.30 µGy) versus 0.10 µGy (range, 0.00 to 0.70 µGy) (P=0.013), respectively. The incision size was also smaller in group B: 27 mm (range, 23 to 29 mm) versus 23 mm (range, 18 to 24 mm) (P=0.05). There were no intraoperative complications in any of the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modified technique for 8-plate placement seems to reduce operative time, radiation exposure, and incision size for guided growth around the knee.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level of evidence II-prospective randomized study.
authors: *Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Sanatorio Allende, Córdoba, Argentina †ABC Medical Center, Mexico City, México.
authors: Julio J
authors: JJ
authors: Masquijo
authors: Lucas
authors: L
authors: Lanfranchi
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Torres-Gomez
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Allende
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D001860:Bone Plates; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000254:growth & development / Q000601:surgery*; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D061646:Operative Time; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013977:Tibia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome