2010•The Orthopedic Journal of ChinaRequires access
Treatment for bone defect and leg shortening by external fixator.
Tang Liu, Xiangsheng Zhang, Zhihong Li
Open publisher page 0 citations
Abstract
[Objective]To study the effect of reconstruction for bone defect and leg shortening with external fixator. [Methods]Twenty-seven child patients ( mean age of 12.8 years ) with bone defect and leg shortening caused by supprative ostemomyelitis were treated by callus distraction performed with external fixator. The mean length of the bone defect was 1.2 cm (range ,1.0 to 1.7cm) according to radiographic assessment. The mean leg-length discrepancy was 4.3 cm ( range ,3.0 to 6.8 cm).[Results]Twenty-seven patients were followed-up for a mean of 86 months (range,30 to 112 months). All bone were union. The mean radiographic consolidation index was 39.2 d/cm (range,36.8 to 48.4 days/cm).[Conclusion]Callus distraction is a reliable method for reconstructing bone defect and leg shortening caused by supprative ostemomyelitis.