[Lengthening of the femur and tibia using Wagner's method]

Thirty-nine patients (19 girls and 20 boys with an average age of 14 years) were submitted to 41 lengthening osteotomies by Wagner's method. The average preoperative shortening was 6.4 cm (3.5-25) and the average lengthening achieved in the femur was 6.4 cm (2.0-10.3) while the lengthening achieved in the tibia was 5.5-5.6 cm. In five patients, residual anisomelia varied between 3.5 to 10 cm and two of these patients have subsequently been submitted to supplementary lengthening. Complications occurred in 12 patients and, in particular, the postoperative course was complicated in two patients over the age of 20 years. It is concluded that lengthening of the femur and tibia by Wagner's method, and undertaken before growth has ceased, is a safe method of correction of considerable anisomelia.