FEMORAL LENGTHENING USING THE CALLOTASIS METHOD - STUDY OF THE COMPLICATIONS IN A SERIES OF 70 CASES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

The authors reviewed 70 femoral lengthenings performed for limb-length discrepancy in 66 children and adolescents using gradual incremental distraction. Nine were performed using the Judet lengthener and 61, th e Orthofix external fixator. Etiology of the femoral shortening was co ngenital in 22, posttraumatic in 17, postinfection in 13, neurologic i n 12, and miscellaneous in six. There were 83 complications, which wer e assessed as to their relation to the etiology of shortening, amount of lengthening, and age. The incidence of joint complications did not seem to be less than that previously encountered with rapid distractio n methods of lengthening. Bony consolidation was achieved without addi tional surgery in 88% of cases. Delayed consolidation was most commonl y encountered in children younger than 8 years old with congenitally s hort femora. The authors believe that good results can be obtained by incremental distraction by using uniplanar fixation by aggressive phys ical therapy, proper fixator application, and appropriate dynamization of the fixator.