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Hydroxyapatite coating of external fixation pins to decrease axial deformity during tibial lengthening for short
Víctor L Caja1, Gabriel Piză, Antonio Navarro
1Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. victorcaja@eresmas.com
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume
|August 20, 2003
Summary
Hydroxyapatite-coated external fixation pins significantly reduce tibial valgus deviation after leg lengthening compared to uncoated pins. This innovation enhances bone-fixator stability, minimizing complications in limb lengthening procedures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomaterials science
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- Tibial valgus is a common complication of leg lengthening using external fixation.
- Pin loosening and instability of the bone-fixator system contribute to tibial valgus.
- Hydroxyapatite coating on fixation pins may improve the bone-pin interface quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of axial deformity (tibial valgus) after leg lengthening.
- To evaluate the efficacy of hydroxyapatite-coated external fixation pins versus uncoated pins.
Main Methods:
- Prospective randomized controlled trial involving 34 tibial lengthening procedures in 17 patients.
- Each patient underwent lengthening on one limb with coated pins and the other with uncoated pins.
- Frontal plane tibial angle was measured pre-operatively and post-fixation to assess valgus deviation.
Main Results:
- Mean valgus deviation was significantly lower with hydroxyapatite-coated pins (6.5 degrees) compared to uncoated pins (12.5 degrees) (p = 0.023).
- No significant differences in other potential valgus-inducing factors were observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Hydroxyapatite-coated external fixation pins reduce the incidence of tibial axial deviation during leg lengthening.
- Coated pins offer improved stability, leading to better outcomes in tibial lengthening procedures.