EPIPHYSIODESIS USING A CANNULATED TUBESAW

A technique for epiphysiodesis using a cannulated tubesaw has been dev eloped to combine the precision of the original Phemister method with newer percutaneous methods, The approach is unilateral, and requires m inimal access, Reinsertion of the removed care of bone reduces haemorr hage from the defect and augments arrest of the growth plate. In 35 pa tients treated by this method predicted discrepancies of 2 to 4.5 cm w ere reliably reduced to 0.7 +/- 0.6 cm, with no serious complications, The timing of surgery is critical, and relies upon careful monitoring of the pattern of discrepancy over several years, using clinical and radiographic measurements, Undercorrection of the disparity in three p atients was the direct result of late referral.