Ad. Aaron et Re. Eilert, RESULTS OF THE WAGNER AND ILIZAROV METHODS OF LIMB-LENGTHENING, Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 78A(1), 1996, pp. 20-29
We compared the results of the Wagner method of limb-lengthening in tw
enty extremities (nineteen patients) with those of the Ilizarov method
in twenty-one extremities (eighteen patients). The Wagner external fi
xator was used in all twenty procedures in which the Wagner lengthenin
g method was performed and in fourteen procedures in which the Ilizaro
v lengthening method was performed. The Ilizarov external fixator was
used in the remaining seven procedures in which the Ilizarov method wa
s performed. The average increase in length was 5.4 centimeters (range
, 2.8 to 8.0 centimeters) with the Wagner technique and 5.9 centimeter
s (range, 1.0 to 16.8 centimeters) with the Ilizarov technique. The ra
te for the lengthening phase was nine days for one centimeter of lengt
h with the Wagner technique and twelve days for one centimeter with th
e Ilizarov technique. The rate for the consolidation phase was forty-f
our days for one centimeter with the Wagner technique and twenty-six d
ays for one centimeter with the Ilizarov technique. The group of patie
nts who were managed with the Wagner technique had thirty major compli
cations, and the group of patients who were managed with the Ilizarov
technique had only thirteen major complications. Forty complications w
ere associated with the use of the uniaxial Wagner external apparatus
and sixteen, with the use of the multiaxial Ilizarov external fixator.