The treatment of leg-length-discrepancy and frontal-plane-deformities withthe percutaneous epiphyseodesis technique

The percutaneous epiphysiodesis is recommended as a save and reliable techn ique. We have performed 21 distal femoral, 17 proximal tibial and 3 proxima l fibular percutaneous epiphyseodeses on 25 patients. On 11 patients the ep iphysiodesis was caused by an average leg length discrepancy of 2,7 cm (1-4 cm). 13 patients had angular deformity near the knee joint in frontal plan e (6 valgus and 7 varus deformities). One patient suffered from a combined deformity with 3,5 cm shortened leg and varus deviation of 10 degrees. The average deformity angle of the knee was 7,4 degrees (4 degrees-16 degrees). 9 patients have reached maturity. On 3 patients the deformity could be cor rected incompletely with residual deformity of 3 degrees, 4 degrees and 6 d egrees as a direct result of late referral. On 1 patient an imminent overco rrection could be avoided by hemiepiphysiodesis of the residual epiphysis. Till the present follow up the other patients have been corrected as calcul ated preoperatively. No complications like epiphysiolysis, infection, stiff knee or angular deformities occurred. We prefer the percutaneous epiphysio desis as a save and minimal invasive technique instead of the open Phemiste r-technique to tread leg length discrepancy and angular deformities of the knee in frontal plane.