[Segmentary growth of the lower limb after surgical lengthening in the children (author's transl)]

The authors review their results after continuous and increasing distraction of either the tibia or femur and attempt to formulate grow the patterns of the lower extremity. To do this, they plotted 23 growth curves of 27 segmentary lengthenings. All measurements were taken on telemetric x-rays and developmental status determined according to the Greulich and Pyle Atlas. Length gain of the elongated segment and limb were analysed in each case. Findings clearly show that growth of the lower extremity depends on the amount of lengthening obtained by distraction. It appears that growth may be normal or accelerated after moderate lengthening (less than 5 cm), reduced or momentarily halted after significant gain. Growth appears to be more favorable when weight bearing is begun early. On the contrary, neither distraction rate, age nor aetology of length discrepancy seem to modify the final outcome. The other segments are equally influenced by distraction. The authors were surprised to find that growth rate here is either exaggerated or reduced in such a way as to result in an over-all lengthening or shortening with regards to the opposite side. They feel that such unexpected variations should promote caution before predicting final status.