Fixator-assisted tibial lengthening over a plate in a patient with sequelae of poliomyelitis

Abstract

There are many techniques for limb lengthening. Lengthening over a plate is an alternative choice of fixation in children or when nailing is difficult. We present a new technique for tibial lengthening with using a monolateral external fixator over a lengthening plate. Lengthening over an intramedullary nail is a commonly used method in patients with short stature or limb-length discrepancy. However, in patients with a narrow and excessively sclerotic intramedullary cavity in the pediatric age group where the skeletal system has not yet fully developed, difficulties have been observed in lengthening methods with nailing. Therefore, in these cases, the use of lengthening techniques over a plate is an alternative treatment option. Nevertheless, in lengthening techniques over a plate, if one side of the osteotomy area cannot be fixed, associated mechanical axis problems have been reported. We applied tibia lengthening with external fixator assistance over a custom-made lengthening plate in a patient with sequelae of poliomyelitis. This new lengthening technique applied over a plate could be the solution to the problems observed in other lengthening techniques over a plate.