[Surgical limb lengthening--experiences and results]

This paper describes the experiences and results in 172 operative lengthening procedures on 134 patients, performed in the Orthopaedic Department of Charité Hospital in Berlin. The bone length increase was on an average 8.5 cm (min.: 1 cm, max.: 20 cm), this gives altogether a bone increase of over 14 meters. Patients are differentiated in groups of age, indication, localization, mode of procedure (callus-distraction, epiphysealdistraction) and in regard to the used external fixation devices. Authors present their own model of wire fixed external fixateur (so called "Berlin type-external fixateur"), a modification of the original Ilizarov-device. Importance of procedure-planning and time-balance as well as the high rates of complications (146 complications = 84.8%) are discussed.