Equalization of lower limbs by epiphysiodesis: results of treatment

Equalization of lower limb length was achieved by epiphysiodesis in 20 children. During the period under review the Phemister procedure was replaced by percutaneous epiphysiodesis, and orthoroentgenogram was superseded by computed tomography (CT) scanning. In five children with anisomelia, whose expected discrepancy was 4.5 cm, the results at maturity showed an average discrepancy of 0.7 cm. In 10 girls with limb-length discrepancy (LLD) caused by ischemic necrosis with congenital dislocation of the hip, the average LLD at maturity was 0.6, whereas the expected LLD was 4 cm. In five children with LLD caused by infection, the average discrepancy was 3.8 cm at the time of epiphysiodesis, whereas at maturity it was 0.5 cm. A good result was achieved in 90% of the patients. We recommend the Moseley straight-line graph, CT scanography, and percutaneous epiphysiodesis.