[Operative leg lengthening, technic, indications and results]

30 operative lengthenings of the lower limb had been performed during 1967 til 1981, all of them after the method described by Wagner. Indication of this treatment was given by a legshortening from minimum 4.0 and maximum 15.0 cm. Twelve lengtheningosteotomies occurred in the thigh, two in the thigh under simultaneous shortening of the opposite side and sixteen in the lower leg. In eight patients resulted a complete compensation, in 21 patients remained a length -- difference between 0.5 until 6.0 cm., in one patients resulted a further legshortening in account of a pseudarthrosis. The following severe complications occurred: necrosis of the skin (n = 3 and infected pseudarthrosis (n = 2). In one case we observed a fatigue fracture in the lower leg when taking away the metal plate. All of these complications could be cured under adequate surgical management.