[Bilateral lengthening of short lower limbs. 26 cases treated with the Ilizarov method]

Gradual distraction with the Ilizarov external fixator was used on 26 patients for short stature. 19 patients complete their program (G1, 64 fixators): average pain is 12 cm for an initial stature of 133 cm; 3 patients stopped their program before end for psychological problems. Surgical procedures included: section of tensor fascia lata (9 cases), lengthening of Achilleus tendon (16 cases), skin debridement around pins (3 cases), modification of apparatus under general anesthesia (53 cases), iterative corticotomy (4 cases in G1) or peroneus section (4 in G1). Healing index was 23 D/cm for femur and 29 D/cm for tibia. Events occurred during the program: 1) mechanicals: 1 pin rupture; 2) bony: 1 delayed healing needing graftng, 3 bone impactions and 11 fractures after fixator removal, 1 axial deviation needing callotasy at fixator removal; 3) nervous and musculary: 12 transitory peroneal nerve lesions, 3 compartment syndromes, 2 proximal sciatic lesion, recovered, and 2 motor palsies; 4) joint lesions: 1 knee stiffness needing an extensive quadriceps release; 5) vascular: 1 deep venous thrombosis; 6) infectious: 10 superficial infections around pins, 4 osteitis and 1 arthritis; 7) cutaneous: 7 scar removals. Lengthening of people with short stature concerns motivated people fully aware of events occurring during a lengthening program which will decrease the initial handicap.