MANAGEMENT OF LOWER-EXTREMITY DEFORMITIES IN OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA WITH EXTENSIBLE INTRAMEDULLARY ROD TECHNIQUE - A 20-YEAR EXPERIENCE

Twelve patients (seven boys, five girls) who had osteogenesis imperfec ta were treated with an extensible-rod system in 21 femurs and 15 tibi as. Indications for use of extensible rods were multiple fractures, lo ng-bone deformity prohibiting bracing and ambulation, and significant remaining linear growth. The average patient age at the time of placem ent of the extensible rods was 6+8 years (range, 2+4-10+10). Six femur s were treated with overlapping Rush rods; Bailey-Dubow rods were used in the remaining femurs and in all tibias. The average length of foll ow-up was 5+9 years (range, 2+0-13+2). Preoperatively, four of the 12 patients had never walked; postoperatively, all were ambulators with v arying levels of assistance. Fourteen complications occurred, 12 of wh ich required operative revision of the extensible rods. The average ti me between primary extensible redding and revision was 5+1 years. No c omplications have occurred to date related to the use of overlapping R ush rods. No growth disturbance resulted from the use of the extensibl e-rod systems.