Corrective lower limb osteotomies in children using temporary external fixation and percutaneous locking plates

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics

Background:

• Congenital and acquired lower limb deformities in children require effective surgical correction.
• Traditional corrective osteotomy methods can involve significant soft tissue disruption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and evaluate a new method for corrective osteotomy and fixation of pediatric lower limb deformities.
• To assess the efficacy and advantages of this minimally invasive technique.

Main Methods:

• A novel technique involving percutaneous fixation with plates and locking screws after osteotomy.
• Temporary stabilization with an external fixator allowing for positional adjustments.
• Procedure performed under fluoroscopic guidance in 18 segments across 11 pediatric patients.

Main Results:

• Successful correction of deformities in all planes, achieving planned angular accuracy within 2 degrees.
• Osseous union achieved in 16 of 18 segments within 6-16 weeks.
• Mean follow-up period of 18 months demonstrated sustained correction.

Conclusions:

• The described method is effective for correcting lower limb deformities in children.
• Advantages include reduced soft tissue dissection and intraoperative adjustability before definitive fixation.
• This technique offers a promising alternative for pediatric orthopedic deformity correction.