Tibial Lengthening Using a Fixator-Assisted Lengthening Plate: A New Technique.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomedical engineering
• Skeletal reconstruction

Background:

• Limb lengthening employs various surgical techniques.
• Lengthening over a plate serves as an alternative, particularly for pediatric cases or when intramedullary nails are contraindicated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel technique for tibial lengthening.
• Utilizing a monolateral external fixator in conjunction with a lengthening plate.

Main Methods:

• A monolateral external fixator was applied to a bone model.
• A corticotomy was performed, followed by the placement of a lateral lengthening plate.
• Screws were inserted proximally and into a lengthening hole, ensuring no contact with fixator pins.
• The fixator facilitated controlled tibial elongation by allowing screws to slide distally.

Main Results:

• The technique achieved bone lengthening without any malalignment.
• No mechanical complications arose during the lengthening process with the external fixator.
• Post-fixator removal, plate osteosynthesis remained stable, with no observed contact between plate screws and fixator pins.

Conclusions:

• The fixator-assisted lengthening plate technique ensures stability and alignment during tibial elongation.
• It permits the early removal of the external fixator post-lengthening.
• This method is applicable to pediatric patients with open physes and adults with narrow medullary canals.