LENGTHENING OF THE LOWER-LIMBS IN PATIENTS WITH ACHONDROPLASIA AND HYPOCHONDROPLASIA

Ten years of experience in lower limb lengthening achieved in 35 patie nts with achondroplasia and seven patients with hypochondroplasia is r eported, A uniform method of callus distraction (callotasis) was used in all cases, although the order of lengthening of each bone differed among the cases, The mean age of the patients at the time of first ope ration was 14.5 years; at followup, the mean age was 18.8 years, The m ean lengthening achieved in the femur was 7.2 cm (range, 4.5-12 cm) an d in the tibia 7.1 cm (range, 4.5-13 cm), More lengthening was achieve d in the more recent cases, The function of lengthened limbs, evaluate d by physical strength tests, was better at followup than before lengt hening in the growing children, although the mechanical axes of the le ngthened bones were not necessarily in correct alignment.