Limb lengthening in children.

Of 73 limb lengthening patients, 35 were treated with distraction of the growth epiphysis, and 38 under diaphyseal-metaphyseal corticotomy. In all cases the lineal fixator and T-shaped fixator with spadai triplanar system invented by the author were used, achieving lengthenings up to 18 cm, the average being 6 cm. The anatomic and functional results show the efficiency of the method as well as the advantages of this external fixator, which can be used as neutralize^ distractor, compressor or bone carrier.