Limb Lengthening in Russell-Silver Syndrome: An Update Confirming Safe and Speedy Healing

Introduction: Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) is a unique cause of syndromic, and often severe, limb length discrepancy (LLD). RSS causes growth retardation both in utero and postnatally, with asymmetry in limb length more noticeable as growth progresses throughout childhood and adolescent. We aim to present the largest cohort in the literature on limb lengthening in patients with RSS and to validate previous literature supporting faster bony consolidation in these patients with more robust data. We further aim to establish differences in healing within this cohort based on age, sex, segment lengthened, or type of lengthening procedure performed, to help refine patient expectations and guide practitioners in treating this population. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with a diagnosis of RSS who underwent a limb lengthening procedure for the purpose of limb equalization. They were compared with a historic control group of patients who underwent limb lengthening for LLD of a non-RSS etiology. The primary outcome measure was bone healing index (BHI). Results: The RSS group consisted of 24 patients with 29 segments lengthened, and was compared with a historic control group consisting of 20 patients with 22 segments lengthened (Goldman). Patients with RSS had a significantly lower BHI, and therefore faster healing of their lengthening site, than their non-RSS peers (P=0.02). Within the RSS cohort, we did not detect a difference in BHI based on int...
Source: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Lower Extremity Source Type: research