Treatment Of Lower Extremity Limb Length Discrepancy In Children By The Ilizarov External Fixator

Objective:To evaluate the treatment effect of lower extremity limb length discrepancy in children.Methods:The clinical data of 31 cases lower extremity limb length discrepancy in children who were treated by the Ilizarov fixator for bone lengthening treatment in the hospital from January 2011 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.Results:The length of the limb in preoperative and postoperative were disobeying normal distribution.The patients were followed up 6-60 months,the average was 25 months.The length of limb shortening was 2.2~16.0cm,the difference of the limb-length in preoperative was 4.4cm(3.5cm,6.5cm),the difference of the limb-length in postoperative was 0.5cm(0.3cm,1.2cm),the length of the limb lengthening was 1.4-6.9cm,the average was 3.9cm.There was significant statistical difference in the length of limb in preoperative and post operative(P<0.05).The functional results were found to be excellent in21 cases(67.74%),good in 7 cases(22.58%),ok in 2 cases(6.45%)and fair in 1 case(3.23%).There was no significant statistical difference of therapeutic effect between male and female,femur and tibia(P>0.05).There was significant statistical difference of therapeutic effect between traumatic group and non-traumatic group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The Ilizarov Fixator is an effective method for lower extremity limb length discrepancy in children,and to some extent can corrective partial angular deformity.The traumatic group have better effect in limb lengthening.It has superiority of simple operation,little trauma,don’t need bone grafting and fewer complication.