Tibial lengthening: does the fibula migrate?

A retrospective study of 32 patients who underwent tibial lengthening was performed in order to establish the need for distal tibio-fibular fixation. In 16 patients stabilization of the inferior tibio-fibular joint was carried out and in the other 16 no stabilization was performed. Three established and one new radiographic index of the tibio-fibular relationship at the ankle were used to assess proximal fibular migration.