Motorized Plate Lengthening of the Femur in Children: A Preliminary Report

Conclusions: Limb lengthening with motorized internal plates is feasible for young children with congenital femoral deficiency for whom intramedullary lengthening is unsafe or if external fixation is to be avoided. However, the fundamental principles of distraction osteogenesis and risks of lengthening for congenital discrepancies remain unchanged. Specific considerations herein include: careful planning of implant length and positioning, adjacent joint protection with adjunctive means, and mitigating deformity of the regenerate during distraction. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Selected Topics Source Type: research