Lower limb lengthening, especially femur lengthening and tibia lengthening, is the most commonly used and effective technique in management of limb length discrepancy and dwarfism. However, there are many complications and sequelae in clinic practice, which limits the application and development of this technique to some extent. The reasons may be related to the following two points: one is the lack of sub discipline of limb lengthening in the domestic system of health and medical education, in other word, it is difficult acquired academic and clinical guidance from specialty of "Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction" in orthopedics departments and hospitals. Secondly, limb lengthening and reconstruction with its own theoretical principles and medical model is a systematic engineering and integration discipline, which cannot be completely guided by the classical orthopedic medical paradigm. The complications of lower limb lengthening have been classified according to local and general, immediate, early and late stage, or by infection and non-infection, or by problems, obstacles, complications, etc. Regarding the nature, Qin proposed a new classification for complications, which is divided into five categories: from soft tissue, from joint, from bone, infective and complex. This classification method can reflect the characteristics of different types, reflect the progressive relationship, and is easy to record, distinguish, emphasize and avoid. Different types of complications can occur in different stages of lower limb lengthening, different kinds of complications can occur alone or simultaneous, and different degrees of complications can transform into each other. It requires that surgeon engaged in limb lengthening must have solid knowledge of orthopedics, and be able to quickly identify and effectively deal with various complications; the patients should fully understand and implement the key points of each step during the whole process of limb lengthening, doctors and patients should be friends to avoid and reduce the occurrence of complications.

Objective:To investigate surgical methods and clinical effects of tibial pseudarthrosis due to neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) in adult using Ilizarov technique combined with intramedullary nail.Methods:A total of 12 adult with tibial pseudarthrosis due to NF1 treated by Ilizarov technique combined with intramedullary nail from October 2009 to December 2017 were retrospectively included. There were 6 males and 6 females with an average age of 27±8.3 years (range 17-44). All cases presented severe anterior arch in varus or valgus deformity with shortening in an average of 10.8±3.7 cm (range 5.6-16.5 cm). The in-volved levels were at the middle and lower part of tibia. All cases suffered from more than one treatment with failed surgery. One male patient with 5 times of unsuccessful operations. There were 4 cases with severe limping gait and 8 cases with walking with the help of brace (or single crutch) preoperatively. Regarding the family history, seven cases were inherited by father and 5 cases by mother. During surgery, the part of tibial pseudarthrosis and thickened fibrous tissue surroundings like periosteal were removed. The contracture achilles tendon was elongated in open way, and intramedullary nailing cross the ankle joint was applied when the tibial medullary cavity opened. Further, iliac bone grafting and proximal tibial osteotomy were performed with Ilizarov fixator application finally. The tibia was lengthened at a rate of 0.5-1 mm/d at 7 days postoperatively. The healing rate of pseudarthrosis and the length and alignment of limb were evaluated by X-ray routinely. The lower limb function and complications were assessed by self-made table for lower limb deformity correction and functional reconstruction.Results:All patients were followed up for 31-80 months with an average of 47.6±14.7 months. Bone union of pseudarthrosis in all cases was eventually achieved. The tibia was lengthened 5-12 cm with an average of 8.4±2.5 cm. There were 9 cases underwent second surgeries to promote bone healing and to correct residual deformities. The external fixator was used for 25-37 months with an average of 31.5±3.7 months. There was no complication, including neurovascular injury, severe soft tissue or bone infection affecting the clinical effects. All intramedullary nails were not removed finally. The limb function and gait in full weight bearing in 12 patients recovered at the latest follow-up. The evaluation score was 2.4±0.3 (range 2.1-2.8), of which 9 cases were excellent 3 were good. Thus, the excellent and good rate was 100%.Conclusion:The satisfactory clinical effects, including angular deformity correction, pseudarthrosis healing and short limb lengthening, can be achieved in adult with tibial pseudarthrosis due to NF1 by using the combination method of Ilizarov technique and intramedullary nail. However, the treatment duration could be longer.

Objective To discuss the mid?to long?term results and possible prognostic factors of Bernese periacetabu?lar osteotomy for adolescents and young adults with developmental dysplasia of the hip. Methods Bernese periacetabular os?teotomy was performed on 162 patients (171 hips) with hip dysplasia from August 1997 to July 2009. Follow?up data was ac?quirable completely in 123 cases (137 hips), including 30 males (33 hips) and 93 females (104 hips). Age of surgery was 12-48 years (average 27.1 years). The X?ray radiographs and Harris scores were recorded preoperatively and at the last follow?up. The lateral center?edge angle (LCE), acetabular incline angle (AI), continuity of Shenton's line were also recorded. The grades of the hip osteoarthritis were classified by T?nnis classification. Insufficient corrections of osteotomy, excessive corrections of osteotomy, nonunion of the pubis, nerve injuries, and vascular injuries were recorded as complications. Results All the con?tactable cases was followed up again in June and July in 2014. Follow?up duration was 5-17 years (mean, 8.1 years). The LCE angle improved from 7.13° ± 8.86° preoperatively to 30.17° ± 14.98° at the final follow?up. The T?nnis acetabular incline angle decreased from 27.84° ± 12.85° preoperatively to 7.06° ± 10.58° at the final follow?up. The continuity of Shenton's line was in?tact in 106 cases postoperatively, compared with 87 cases preoperatively. Harris score improved from 83.34±9.82 preoperative?ly to 92.79±7.05 at the last follow?up. There was significant correlation between preoperative Harris score and Harris score at the last follow?up. Early complications were observed in 15 cases (15 hips), along with 17 cases (17 hips) of progressions of hip osteoarthritis. Survival rate of the hip at the last follow?up was 97.8%. Conclusion Bernese periacetabular osteotomies can significantly improve bone coverage and joint function of hip dysplasia patients with low rate of short?term complications. Further?more, there was little osteoarthritis progression observed, with good survival rate of the joint in mid?to long?term follow?up. Lower pre?operative Harris scores and higher pre?operative T?nnis classifications are important prognostic factors for post?operative pain.

It is a tough challenge treatment of complete dislocation from developmental dysplasia of the hip at the age of 8-25 patients. Although the procedure of total hip arthroplasty (THA) can improve joint function significantly, the failure rate still remains high. Hip arthrodesis remains a sensible and safe option. A stable and painless hip joint can be obtained without multiple operations. Ganz et al.had described a modified Colonna capsular arthroplasty and surgical hip dislocation with well joint functions, radiographic findings and the less complications of the femoral head osteonecrosis. There is a obvious advantage in postponing THA, and subsequent THA could be technically easier and safer in a dislocated hip. The procedure of pelvic support osteotomy, which is proposed by Ilizarov, combined two steps of femur osteotomy and femur lengthening, provides an effective treatment option for adolescent hip dysplasia or dislocation. By this procedure, the hip could be reserved, the limb length recovered and the gait improved significantly. Resection arthroplasty is a reliable method, by which 90% dysplasia patients received a painless joint and good functional outcomes. In view of certain drawbacks, it is used only as a salvage operation currently. This article reviews some alternative nonarthroplasty methods for developmental dysplasia of the hip with complete dislocation. Good clinical results can be obtained through strict indications and nice surgical skills.
Adolescent ; Arthrodesis ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Child ; Femur ; Femur Head ; Gait ; Hip Dislocation ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; therapy ; Humans ; Osteonecrosis ; Osteotomy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution law and study the factors related to the femoral neck anteversion angle among the patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip of Hartofilakidis type I.

METHODSAmong the patients with hip dysplasia of Hartofilakidis type I who was admitted to Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of People's Liberation Army General Hospital from June 2010 to June 2013, a total of 340 hips (25 male and 161 female) were included in the study. The average age was 28.3 years, ranging from 13.5 to 49.9 years. The observation index included: femoral neck anteversion angle, lateral center-edge angle, acetabular index angle, lateral displacement of the femoral head, superior displacement of the femoral head, continuity of Shenton's line and Calve's line. The correlation between different factors was analyzed, and the factor closest to femoral neck anteversion angle was analyzed further by regression analysis.

RESULTSAmong the patients of developmental dysplasia of the hip of Hartofilakidis type I, the femoral neck anteversion angle increased, with an average of 28°±13°. Correlation and regression analysis showed significant negative correlation with treatment age (r=-0.158, P=0.003; t=-6.892, P=0.000); positive correlation with gender (r=0.332, P=0.000; t=-4.376, P=0.000); significant positive correlation with lateral displacement of the femoral head (r=0.092, P=0.000; t=3.766, P=0.000); significant negative correlation with central-edge angle (r=-0.122, P=0.024; t=2.031, P=0.043). The femoral neck anteversion angle showed correlation with acetabular index angle, continuity of Calve's line and superior displacement of the femoral head in correlation analysis, not in regression analysis, however, it did not show correlation with side and continuity of Shenton's line.

CONCLUSIONAmong the patients of developmental dysplasia of the hip of Hartofilakidis type I, the increasing of the femoral neck anteversion angle may not only lead to early onset and therefore early treatment of pain in the hip joint but also the lateral displacement of the femoral head that requires immediate medical attention.

Acetabulum ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Femur Head ; Femur Neck ; pathology ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; pathology ; surgery ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Orthopedics ; Regression Analysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective: To discuss the clinical application and effects of domestic external fixator in the treatment of patients with malformations of limbs. Methods: A total of 7 289 patients with malformation of limbs who had been operated in Qin Sihe orthopedic surgery team from January 1989 to June 2016 were retrospective analyzed. The patients were treated with domestic external fixator, including 4 033 males and 3 256 females, aging from 2 to 82 years with a mean age of 23.4 years. There were 2 732 patients using Ilizarov external fixator, 4 713 patients using hybrid external fixator, 57 patients using monobrachial external fixator, 232 patients using Ilizarov external fixator and hybrid external fixator. The Ilizarov, hybrid and monobrachial external fixator were used in 67, 65 and 0 patients on the upper limbs and in 2 665, 4 616 and 57 patients on the lower limbs. There were 3 028 patients operated on the left limbs, 3 260 patients operated on the right limbs and 1 001 patients operated on the bilateral limbs. The top three types of diseases were sequelae of poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy and post-traumatic stress disorder peromely. Deformity types inclued talipes equinovarus, knee flexion deformity, cavus foot and so on. Results: All the patients were followed up for a period of 2.5 months to 22.4 years, with an average follow-up time of 5.4 years. All of the external fixators were used for single once, and there was no substitute for external fixator quality problem. All the patients were completed surgery goal until removing external fixation except 1 patient gave up treatment and 1 removed the fixator because of metal allergy. The common complications included wire or pin infection and joint movement limitation and so on. Conclusions The domestic external fixator developed and produced based on the characteristics of Chinese limb deformity disability. The domestic external fixator can be used to treat kinds of limb deformities with the advantages of practical, economical, adjustable, universal and portable. The domestic external fixator could meet the clinical demand for fixation of the osteotomy end of the limbs, the correction of the deformity, the repair of the defects and the limb lengthening.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and indications of arthrolysis plus Ilizarov technique in the treatment of traumatic fibrous stiffness of the knee.Methods:The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively of the 9 patients (10 knees) with traumatic fibrous stiffness who had been treated by arthrolysis plus Ilizarov technique from January 2012 to December 2020 at Department of Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation Hospital of National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technique Aids. There were 8 males and one female, aged from 15 to 42 years (average, 30.2 years). The left side was affected in 2 cases, the right side in 6 ones and bilateral sides in one. Their knee stiffness was all caused by injury around the knee. The time from injury to treatment ranged from 12 months to 38 years (average, 16.5 years). The admission examination revealed that the knee extension ranged from -40° to 0° and the knee flexion from -10° to 40°. Wearing time for the external fixator and incidence of complications were recorded; the ranges of knee motion were compared before and after treatment; the Qin Sihe criteria for postoperative limb deformity correction were used at the last follow-up to evaluate the curative efficacy.Results:The 9 patients were followed up for 20 to 78 months with an average of 35 months. The external fixators were worn for 14 to 200 days with an average of 78.4 days. During the traction period, pin tract reaction (3 holes) occurred in 2 patients with 3 knees, pin tract infection (2 holes) in 2 patients with 2 knees, the incision healed poorly in one patient, and no other complications occurred. The functional recovery of the knee was good at the last follow-up. The knee extension was 0°, insignificantly different from the preoperative value (-6.5°±12.9°) ( t=-1.591, P=0.146); the flexion angle was 70.0°±17.6°, significantly better than the preoperative value (15.0°±17.2°) ( t=-6.822, P< 0.001). According to the Qin Sihe postoperative criteria, the curative efficacy at the last follow-up was excellent in 7 knees and good in 3. Conclusion:In the treatment of traumatic fibrous stiffness of the knee, when the efficacy of simple arthrolysis is not good enough, a combination with Ilizarov technique can help improve the postoperative knee function and prevent severe complications.

Ilizarov technology, which led to bone regeneration and limb lengthening, was one of the important milestones in the development of orthopedics in the 20th century. With involving in clinical of evolution, system cybernetics, regenerative medicine, artificial intelligence, 3D printing in the 21st century, the usual orthopaedic category was broken through. The skull, spine, pelvis, fingers, toes and neuropathic ulceration, ischemic gangrene almost can implement regenerate, repair and reconstruction, which further proof that the biological force can inspire the potential of the human tissue regeneration. This paper traced the history of limb lengthening for more than 100 years, expounded the original bone osteotomy, lengthening concept and important biological theory of Ilizarov technique, distraction osteogenesis and distraction histogenesis, and their development in the former Soviet Union, Europe, North America and all over the world. The strengths, weaknesses and continuous improvement of Wagner, Bastiani, Orthofix, Ilizarov fixator and lengthenable intramedullary nail were introduced, and clinical application of different tissue regeneration and reconstruction caused by distraction histogenesis were described in this paper. International Society for Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction and the academic organizations of various countries play important roles in promoting process of continuous development of limb lengthening. The origin and development of limb lengthening and reconstruction in China can be divided into four stages:the stage before Ilizarov technology, namely the independent research and development of external fixation; the stage of Ilizarov technology period of distraction osteogenesis; the stage post-Ilizarov; and the stage of limb regeneration and reconstruction under stress control and regulation, which has now entered a new era of rapid development.