Limb lengthening with one Precice nail over its capacity

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Limb length discrepancy (LLD) presents a significant orthopedic challenge.
• Existing lengthening nails primarily focus on lengthening, with limited options for shortening.
• The Precice nail is an internal lengthening device known for its low complication rates and high patient satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel surgical technique utilizing the shortening capability of the Precice nail.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique in correcting a large limb length discrepancy.

Main Methods:

• A 37-year-old female patient with a 14 cm LLD was treated.
• The technique involved maximum lengthening with the Precice nail, followed by removal of distal interlocking screws.
• The nail was then shortened via external remote control, and screws were reattached to continue lengthening without waiting for osteotomy union.

Main Results:

• The described surgical technique successfully corrected a 14 cm LLD in the patient.
• The procedure demonstrated the feasibility of using the Precice nail's shortening feature within a single surgery.
• The technique was performed safely and satisfactorily, highlighting its potential for complex LLD cases.

Conclusions:

• This innovative surgical approach effectively utilizes the dual lengthening and shortening capabilities of the Precice nail.
• The technique offers a safe and satisfactory solution for correcting substantial limb length discrepancies with a single implant.
• This method expands the utility of the Precice nail in managing complex orthopedic cases.