Sj. Luhmann et al., MANAGEMENT OF LOWER-EXTREMITY DEFORMITIES IN OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA WITH EXTENSIBLE INTRAMEDULLARY ROD TECHNIQUE - A 20-YEAR EXPERIENCE, Journal of pediatric orthopedics, 18(1), 1998, pp. 88-94
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.