Limb Lengthening by Gradual Elongation Intramedullary Nail (Albizzia )

Hahn, Soo Bong; Park, Hui Wan; Kang, Ki Won

Abstract

Leg length discrepancy or short stature is a significant problem to patient psychosocially, cosmetically, and there has been many efforts for limb lengthening. There are many report about lower limb lengthening since the first description of femoral lengthening by Codivilla in 1905. Although limb lengthening using external fixator was popularized by Anderson, the result was poor because of many difficulties in techniques and complications. Recently, a great progress in lower limb lengthening was made by distraction osteogenesis by llizarov and callotasis by De Bastiani. But as such exter- nal fixator has some problem in technique, cosmesis or complications. Therefore gradual elongation intrameduilary nailing(Albizzia) developed by Guichet in 1986 has gained attention for more stability and relatively less discomfort. We reviewed 18 cases in 11 patients(5 males and 6 females) who visited the department of Orthopedic Surgery of Severance Hospital at Yonsei University with limb leg length discrepancy due to sequeale of poliomyelitis, familial short stature and Turner syndrome. They all underwent lower limb lengthening using Albizzia technique between December 1995 and January l997. The average age at the time of the operation was 22.7 year. Famiiial short stature was in 12 cases(67%), Turner syndrome in 2 cases(11%), and leg length discrepancy due to the sequelae of poliomyelitis in 4 cases(22%). The site of lengthening were 5 cases of femur(28%) and l3 cases of tibia(72%). The latency period was average of 7 days. During the distraction period, 15 ratchetings per day(1 mm/day) were performed. In case of bilaterai femoral lengthenings, average length of gain(LG) was 6.0cm and percentage of increase(PI) l6.8%(16.2-17.4), lengthening index(LI) 1.2 month/cm(0.75-2.2). In case of unilateral femoral lengthening, LG was 3.8cm, Pl 7.8 %, Ll 1.3 month/ cm. In case of bilateral tibial lengthening, average LG was 5.5cm(3.5-6.0~) and Pl 18.8%(12.0-22.9), LI 1.3month/cm(0.67-2.3). In case of unilateral tibial lengthening, LG was 2.9cm(2.3-3.5), P1 9.4 %(7.7-11.7), LI 2.8 month/cm(2.2-3.1). Lengthening index in poliomyelitis by llizarov was 3.l month/cm, but it was 1.3 in femur and 2.8 in tibia hy Albizzia method. There are some advantages and disadvantages or contraindications and indications of the Albizzia technique. We suggest that the Albizzia technique is more stahle, more comfortable and no longer lengthening time compared to external fixator such as Ilizarov.