Lengthening of congenital below-elbow amputation stumps by the Ilizarov technique

Patients with short congenital amputations below the elbow often function a s if they have had a disarticulation of the elbow. We have reviewed the res ults in six patients who had lengthening of such stumps by the Ilizarov tec hnique to improve the fitting of prostheses. The mean lengthening was 5.6 cm (3.4 to 8.4), and in two patients flexion c ontractures of the elbows were corrected simultaneously. Additional lateral distraction was used in one patient to provide a better surface on the stu mp. There were no major complications. All six patients were able to use th eir prosthesis at the latest follow-up after 39 to 78 months.