Forces involved in lower limb lengthening: an in vivo biomechanical study.

Despite improvements in surgical techniques for limb-lengthening procedures, the complication rate remains high. Bone fixators must cope with the forces involved during treatment, providing sufficient strength to maintain integrity of the limb in the course of lengthening, while permitting some "micromotion" across the bone gap that could enhance healing during the final phase of bone consolidation. This study reports on the forces generated during limb lengthening in the distraction and consolidation phases.