Femur can be lengthened over nail, along its mechanical axis : a modified lengthening over nail technique.

Femur can be lengthened over nail, along its mechanical axis : a modified lengthening over nail technique.
Acta Orthop Belg. 2017 Jun;83(2):223-230
Authors: Açan AE, Demirhan N, Başçi O, Gürsan O, Karakaşli A, Havitçioglu H
Abstract
The theoretical risk of medialisation of the knee joint and the lateral shift of the lower extremity mechanical axis, due to achievement of lengthening along the anatomical axis is present in the process of lengthening with elongation nails and the "lengthening over nail" technique. With this new technique described in this study we aimed to prove that lengthening over nail can be performed along the mechanical axis of the femur. Six lower-limb models were used to perform three different lengthening techniques. In group 1, lengthening was achieved along the anatomical axis with an external fixator. In group 2, the clamps of the external fixator were adjusted at 6° to achieve lengthening along the mechanical axis. In group 3, eight different sized nails were applied with an external fixator (angle adjustable clamps were at 6°) to achieve lengthening along the mechanical axis by LON technique. Photographs were taken after each cm of lengthening and the distance from the mechanical axis line were measured. The modified LON technique described in this study provided lengthening along the mechanical axis. One of the main advantages of the procedure described in our study is the chance for reconsiderati...

Source: Acta Orthopaedica Belgica - November 10, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Acta Orthop Belg Source Type: research