Simultaneous ipsilateral femoral and tibial lengthening with the Ilizarov method

Eight pediatric patients who underwent nine simultaneous ipsilateral femoral and tibial lengthenings with the Ilizarov external fixator were reviewed. The patient's demographics, diagnoses, corticotomy levels, mechanical axes, healing indices, amounts of lengthening, and complications were recorded. The patients' average age was 8 years 10 months (5 years 4 months-15 years 10 months) with an average follow-up of 49 months (30-88 months). The percentage of femoral lengthening averaged 16.7% (8-23%) with an average healing index of 28 days/cm (20-38 days/cm). The percentage of tibial lengthening averaged 18% (9.6-23.6%) with an average healing index of 29 days/cm (19-40 days/cm). Four complications in three patients occurred as a direct result of the lengthening process. Three of the complications involved soft-tissue contractures, which were each successfully treated with one additional surgical procedure, whereas the fourth complication involved poor bone regeneration and required bone grafting and additional immobilization.