LINEAR SCLERODERMA

We report on two patients with linear scleroderma (a form of localised scleroderma) and their orthopaedic problems such as shortening of the limbs and contractions of the joints. The disease is very rare but ea sy to diagnose by its typical lesions of the skin (band like lesions w ith ivory like induration and hyper- or hypopigmentation; a peripheral erythema appears as lilac ring). In the orthopedic management it is v ery important to follow the patient carefully during the period of gro wth for good planning of the conservative (physiotherapy and orthesis) and operative therapy, which in one of our patients consisted in repe ated corrections as partial arthrodesis of the foot and osteotomies of the leg.