Lengthening osteotomy for leg bone defect: A report of 22 cases / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of lengthening osteotomy for leg bone defect. Methods The clinical data of 22 patients who received lengthening osteotomy for leg bone defect from February 2005 to March 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Operative methods were designed according to the patients' general condition, condition of fracture nonunion and bone defect accompanied by osteomyelitis. They included Z-shaped, oblique, and cortical bone osteotomy. The modified Ilizarov external fixator was used after osteotomy. Bone lengthening was performed 1 week after the operation, and the lengthening rate was 0.5-1mm/d. Results The bone defects achieved bone union in the 22 patients by fixation and lengthening for 3-10 months (8 months on average), followed by external fixation for 6 months to achieve clinical union. The follow-up period for all the patients ranged from 12 to 15 months, and remediable complication was found in 2 patients (1 mild, 1 moderate), and no irredeemable complication was observed. Conclusions Lengthening osteotomy is safe, reliable, and easy to operate. Furthermore postoperative nursing care is simple and complications are less, thus it is an ideal surgical method for leg bone defect.