Hemichondrodiastasis for the treatment of genu varum deformity associated with bone dysplasias

Hemichondrodiastasis has been reported for treatment of angular deformities in children close to skeletal maturity. The use of distraction through the physis in younger children was not recommended. The authors report three c hildren 3 to 7 years of age who underwent bilateral proximal tibial hemicho ndrodiastasis for correction of genu varum due to bone dysplasia. Ilizarov external fixators were applied in all cases. The patients underwent gradual angular correction at a rate of 0.5 mm/d. Distraction was continued until a normal mechanical axis was achieved. Normal alignment was achieved in two patients and slight overcorrection in the third. The patients were followe d for 3 to 11 years, and no adverse affects on the physis were identified. This is the first report of physeal distraction in patients this young. Our results are good, and we believe that hemichondrodiastasis can be safely u sed for correction of angular deformities in young children.