Correction of lower limb deformities in children with renal osteodystrophy by the Ilizarov method.

Background: Children with renal osteodystrophy (ROD) may develop severe angular deformities of the limbs. Various methods, both medical and surgical, have been described for correction of these deformities, but a literature search showed only 1 child previously treated by the Ilizarov method. The purpose of this study was to characterize the deformities found in our group of patients and to describe our experience in treating these patients with the Ilizarov method.

Treatment of Achilles tendon calcinosis in juvenile dermatomyositis with external ilizarov fixator.

Calcinosis is a devastating complication of juvenile dermatomyositis and a challenging therapeutic problem. We report the use of an external Ilizarov fixator for the treatment of Achilles tendon calcinosis causing severe disability in a young girl with juvenile dermatomyositis.

The distally based sural musculoneurocutaneous flap for treatment of distal tibial osteomyelitis.

Background: The treatment of distal tibial osteomyelitis represents a challenge for orthopedic and plastic surgeons. The affected tissues should be debrided and good vascularized tissue should cover the defect, but the option of a muscle flap covering the area is limited. Free flaps are used but require longer operating time and experience with microsurgery, may result in donor-site morbidity, and sometimes add bulky tissue to the area.

Arthrodesis with the Ilizarov device after failed knee arthroplasty.

Thirteen patients with failed total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to infection (12 patients) or aseptic loosening (1 patient) underwent arthrodesis using the Ilizarov external fixator. Solid fusion was achieved in all patients with an average healing time of 27.6 weeks.

[Operative mortality in surgery for hip fractures].

Prevalence of hip fractures is increasing world-wide, as the mean age of populations increases. Despite advances in anesthesia, nursing care, and surgical techniques, hip fractures remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. We operated on 65 cases of hip fractures from 1995 to the end of 1997: average age was 82.

[The Ilizarov apparatus in pseudoarthrosis of the long bones].

Distraction osteogenesis with the Ilizarov technique is effective in achieving bone healing in both atrophic and infected pseudoarthrosis. In 10 patients with atrophic and 14 with infected pseudoarthrosis treated by this method, solid bone union with reconstruction of anatomical limb length was achieved in all except 1. They ranged in age from 16-80, with a mean of 44.

The surgical treatment of severe comminuted intraarticular fractures of the distal radius with the small AO external fixation device. A prospective three-and-one-half-year follow-up study.

Although fractures of the distal radius are very common, an optimal treatment has not been clearly delineated. This is a prospective study of 40 patients, mainly young and active adults, with comminuted and unstable intraarticular fractures of the distal radius. The end results of closed reduction and rigid fixation with the small AO external fixator includes 36 patients (90%) with excellent and good results.

Cast or external fixation for fracture of the distal radius. A prospective study of 126 cases.

In a prospective 4-year study, 126 consecutive patients with a fracture of the distal radius were followed. Functional, anatomic, and radiographic final results of fixation with above-the-elbow cast immobilization were compared with the results obtained with external fixation. The results following external fixation of comminuted intraarticular fractures were better than those of similar fractures treated in a cast.

The use of external fixators in the treatment and rehabilitation of compound limb injuries.

Application of the Wagner leg lengthening apparatus, the A-O tubular system, and the Avmedica-Shiba external fixator in the treatment of severe compound limb fractures is reported. The application of the fixation frame at the time of patient arrival, together with aggressive surgical debridement of lacerated tissues and early skin grafting, followed five days later by patient and joint mobilization, has significantly improved the results of treatment. The time of hospitalization was shortened, and the complication rate was low with no deep infection, in the face of a nonunion rate of 10%.