Preliminary Results of Bone Lengthening over Telescopic Titanium Intramedullary Rod

BACKGROUND: Limb lengthening and deformity correction in patients with abnormal bone associating fragility often require an approach combining methods of external and internal fixation. This study demonstrates results of simultaneous application of external fixator, and telescopic rod for femoral lengthening and deformity correction in three children with osteogenesis imperfecta or severe form of Ollier's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients (two boys with Ollier's disease and a girl with osteogenesis imperfecta, type I) were operated on for femoral lengthening with combined technique associating Ilizarov frame and titanium telescopic intramedullary rodding. RESULTS: Planned amount of lengthening and deformity correction were achieved for all patients. We found neither rod bending nor pull out of threaded tips. There was no difficulty of expanding of telescopic intramedullary rods made of titanium alloy during distraction phase of lengthening procedure. CONCLUSION: This short series proved feasibility of performing one-stage surgery with external frame and telescopic rodding in limb lengthening. The technique of telescopic rods in lengthening procedure is promising method requiring meticulous insertion of rod in centralized positioning in epiphysis. Acute alignment of the segment been elongating should be achieved at surgery. No any progressive angular deformity correction in postoperative period is authorized in order to avoid bending of telescopic rod. This combined approach does not affect bone healing.