Fifteen patients who limped and had early fatigue on walking caused by ischaemic necrosis after treatment for congenital dislocation of the hip had distal and lateral transfer of the greater trochanter. Nine of them in whom the predicted leg-length discrepancy was more than 3 cm also had epiphysiodesis of the contralateral leg. At skeletal maturity the limp was eliminated and walking distance was significantly improved in them all. In those who had epiphysiodesis the average leg-length discrepancy was 0.7 cm at maturity. Two of those not treated by epiphysiodesis used a heel raise of 1.5 cm. In seven cases the two operations were performed simultaneously without serious complications. This procedure is recommended at about the age of 12 years

We have reviewed the results of amputation through the ankle in the management of 37 children with congenital leg-length discrepancy, followed up for a mean of 7.6 years after operation. In general good function was achieved and 18 patients considered their activities to be unrestricted. The main factor affecting the functional result was the underlying condition for which operation had been performed. Although heel pad migration, scar rotation and os calcis remnants were seen, these could be accommodated by the prosthesis. Syme's amputation is tolerated well in the younger child and, in patients with a predicted leg-length discrepancy of over 15 cm associated with an abnormal foot, we recommend the operation as a primary procedure between the ages of 18 months and two years

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia remains one of the most difficult orthopaedic problems. We describe early excision and the use of the Masquelet technique to reconstruct the bone defect in a child aged 14 months. Consolidation sufficient for complete weight-bearing was achieved by seven weeks. After two and a half years, the child was asymptomatic with a fully reconstructed tibia and no leg-length discrepancy

We present a case of early retrieval of an Oxinium femoral head and corresponding polyethylene liner where there was significant surface damage to the head and polyethylene. The implants were retrieved at the time of revision surgery to correct leg-length discrepancy just 48 hours after the primary hip replacement. Appropriate analysis of the retrieved femoral head demonstrated loss of the Oxinium layer with exposure of the underlying substrate and transfer of titanium from the acetabular shell at the time of a reduction of the index total hip replacement. In addition, the level of damage to the polyethylene was extensive despite only 48 hours in situ. The purpose of this report is to highlight the care that is required at the time of reduction, especially with these hard femoral counter-faces such as Oxinium. To our knowledge, the damage occurring at the time of reduction has not been previously reported following the retrieval of an otherwise well-functioning hip replacement

We performed a paired study of mature patients with Perthes’ disease to compare the radiological results after treatment between conservatively- and surgically-treated groups. One patient was selected from each group to create the pairs for this study. Each pair was strictly matched for gender, body mass index, age at onset, stage at the first visit, necrotic area and radiological at-risk signs and each was assessed by comparing the values of six radiological measurements. Eighteen pairs (36 hips) fitted the criteria. The radiological measurements which showed a statistically better result in the surgical groups were Mose’s method, the acetabular-head index and leg-length discrepancy. There were no statistical differences in the slope of the acetabular roof and the articulotrochanteric distance. Four hips in the conservative group were in Stulberg class II, five in class III and nine in class IV. In the surgical group, 13 were in Stulberg class II, four in class III and one in class IV. We conclude that surgical treatment improved the sphericity of the femoral head and provided greater acetabular cover, but did not reform the acetabular roof. It was noteworthy that a greater leg-length discrepancy and a smaller articulotrochanteric distance were not seen in the surgical group. Our study suggests that surgical treatment is preferable in patients with severe Perthes’ disease

We undertook a retrospective study of 50 consecutive patients (41 male, 9 female) with an infected nonunion and bone defect of the femoral shaft who had been treated by radical debridement and distraction osteogenesis. Their mean age was 29.9 years (9 to 58) and they had a mean of 3.8 (2 to 19) previous operations. They were followed for a mean of 5.9 years (2.0 to 19.0). The mean duration of the distraction osteogenesis was 24.5 months (2 to 39). Pin-track infection was observed in all patients. The range of knee movement was reduced and there was a mean residual leg-length discrepancy of 1.9 cm (0 to 8) after treatment. One patient required hip disarticulation to manage intractable sepsis. In all, 13 patients had persistant pain. Bony union was achieved in 49 patients at a mean of 20.7 months (12 to 35). Although distraction osteogenesis is commonly used for the treatment of infected femoral nonunion with bone defects, it is associated with a high rate of complications

We compared the accuracy of the growth remaining method of assessing leg-length discrepancy (LLD) with the straight-line graph method, the multiplier method and their variants. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 44 patients treated by percutaneous epiphysiodesis for LLD. All were followed up until maturity. We used the modified Green–Anderson growth-remaining method (Method 1) to plan the timing of epiphysiodesis. Then we presumed that the other four methods described below were used pre-operatively for calculating the timing of epiphysiodesis. We then assumed that these four methods were used pre-operatively. Method 2 was the original Green–Anderson growth-remaining method; Method 3, Paley’s multiplier method using bone age; Method 4, Paley’s multiplier method using chronological age; and Method 5, Moseley’s straight-line graph method. We compared ‘Expected LLD at maturity with surgery’ with ‘Final LLD at maturity with surgery’ for each method. Statistical analysis revealed that ‘Expected LLD at maturity with surgery’ was significantly different from ‘Final LLD at maturity with surgery’. Method 2 was the most accurate. There was a significant correlation between ‘Expected LLD at maturity with surgery’ and ‘Final LLD at maturity with surgery’, the greatest correlation being with Method 2. Generally all the methods generated an overcorrected value. No method generates the precise ‘Expected LLD at maturity with surgery’. It is essential that an analysis of the pattern of growth is taken into account when predicting final LLD. As many additional data as possible are required. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:993–1000

Between 1996 and 2003 six institutions in the United States and France contributed a consecutive series of 234 fractures of the femur in 229 children which were treated by titanium elastic nailing. Minor or major complications occurred in 80 fractures. Full information was available concerning 230 fractures, of which the outcome was excellent in 150 (65%), satisfactory in 57 (25%), and poor in 23 (10%). Poor outcomes were due to leg-length discrepancy in five fractures, unacceptable angulation in 17, and failure of fixation in one. There was a statistically significant relationship (p = 0.003) between age and outcome, and the odds ratio for poor outcome was 3.86 for children aged 11 years and older compared with those below this age. The difference between the weight of children with a poor outcome and those with an excellent or satisfactory outcome was statistically significant (54 kg vs 39 kg; p = 0.003). A poor outcome was five times more likely in children who weighed more than 49 kg

Flexible intramedullary nailing is gaining popularity as an effective method of treating long-bone fractures in children. We retrospectively reviewed the records and radiographs of 56 unstable fractures of the tibia in 54 children treated between March 1997 and May 2005. All were followed up for at least two months after the removal of the nails. Of the 56 tibial fractures, 13 were open. There were no nonunions. The mean time to clinical and radiological union was ten weeks. Complications included residual angulation of the tibia, leg-length discrepancy, deep infection and failures of fixation. All achieved an excellent functional outcome. We conclude that flexible intramedullary fixation is an easy and effective method of management of both open and closed unstable fractures of the tibia in children

In skeletally immature patients, resection of bone tumours and reconstruction of the lower limb often results in leg-length discrepancy. The Stanmore non-invasive extendible endoprosthesis, which uses electromagnetic induction, allows post-operative lengthening without anaesthesia. Between 2002 and 2009, 55 children with a mean age of 11.4 years (5 to 16) underwent reconstruction with this prosthesis; ten patients (18.2%) died of disseminated disease and one child underwent amputation due to infection. We reviewed 44 patients after a mean follow-up of 41.2 months (22 to 104). The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 24.7 (8 to 30) and the Toronto Extremity Salvage score was 92.3% (55.2% to 99.0%). There was no local recurrence of tumour. Complications developed in 16 patients (29.1%) and ten (18.2%) underwent revision. The mean length gained per patient was 38.6 mm (3.5 to 161.5), requiring a mean of 11.3 extensions (1 to 40), and ten component exchanges were performed in nine patients (16.4%) after attaining the maximum lengthening capacity of the implant. There were 11 patients (20%) who were skeletally mature at follow-up, ten of whom had equal leg lengths and nine had a full range of movement of the hip and knee. This is the largest reported series using non-invasive extendible endoprostheses after excision of primary bone tumours in skeletally immature patients. The technique produces a good functional outcome, with prevention of limb-length discrepancy at skeletal maturity

When performing total hip replacement (THR) in high dislocated hips, the presence of soft-tissue contractures means that most surgeons prefer to use a femoral shortening osteotomy in order to avoid the risk of neurovascular damage. However, this technique will sacrifice femoral length and reduce the extent of any leg-length equalisation. We report our experience of 74 THRs performed between 2000 and 2008 in 65 patients with a high dislocated hip without a femoral shortening osteotomy. The mean age of the patients was 55 years (46 to 72) and the mean follow-up was 42 months (12 to 78). All implants were cementless except for one resurfacing hip implant. We attempted to place the acetabular component in the anatomical position in each hip. The mean Harris hip score improved from 53 points (34 to 74) pre-operatively to 86 points (78 to 95) at final follow-up. The mean radiologically determined leg lengthening was 42 mm (30 to 66), and the mean leg-length discrepancy decreased from 36 mm (5 to 56) pre-operatively to 8.5 mm (0 to 18) postoperatively. Although there were four (5%) post-operative femoral nerve palsies, three had fully resolved by six months after the operation. No loosening of the implant was observed, and no dislocations or infections were encountered. Total hip replacement without a femoral shortening osteotomy proved to be a safe and effective surgical treatment for high dislocated hips

We report a case of spontaneous physeal growth arrest of the distal femur in a nine-year-old child with Ewing’s sarcoma of the proximal femur treated with chemotherapy and endoprosthetic replacement. Owing to the extent of disuse osteoporosis at the time of surgery, the entire intramedullary canal up to the distal femoral physis was filled with cement. Three years later, the femur remained at its pre-operative length of 19 cm. Pre-operative calculations of further growth failed to account for the growth arrest, and the initial expandable growing prosthesis inserted has been revised to a longer one in order to address the leg-length discrepancy. To our knowledge, this is the only reported case of distal femoral physeal growth arrest following cemented endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal femur

Between December 2004 and June 2006, 136 patients (156 total hip replacements), were sent from the waiting list of the Cardiff Vale NHS Trust to the NHS Treatment Centre, Weston-super-Mare, in an attempt to reduce the waiting time for total hip replacement. Because of concerns about their outcome, each patient was contacted and invited to attend a review appointment with a consultant specialising in hip and revision hip replacement. A total of 98 patients (113 hips) were reviewed after a mean of 23 months (11 to 30). There were 104 cemented hips, seven hybrid and two cementless. An acetabular inclination of > 55° was seen in 18 (16%). Radiolucent lines around the acetabular component were seen in 76 (67%). The femoral component was in more than 4° of varus in 47 (42%). The medial floor had been breached in 13 (12%) and there was a leg-length discrepancy of more than 1 cm in ten (9%). There were three dislocations, one femoral fracture, one pulmonary embolus, one deep infection and two superficial wound infections. To date, 13% (15 hips) have been revised and a further 4% (five hips) await revision, mostly for a painful loose acetabular component. The revision rate far exceeds the 0.5% five-year failure rate reported in the Swedish Registry for the components used. This initiative and the consequent need for correction of the problems created, has significantly increased the workload of our unit

We describe a technique of ‘cross-hip distraction’ to reduce a dislocated hip with subsequent reconstruction of the joint for septic arthritis with extensive femoral osteomyelitis. A 27-year-old woman presented with a dislocated, collapsed femoral head and chronic osteomyelitis of the femur. Examination revealed a leg-length discrepancy of 7 cm and an irritable hip. A staged technique was used with primary clearance of osteomyelitis and secondary reconstruction of the hip. A cross-hip monolateral external fixator was used to establish normal anatomy followed by an arthroplasty. A good functional outcome was achieved. The use of cross-hip distraction avoids soft-tissue and nerve damage and achieved improved abductor function before arthroplasty

Permanent growth arrest of the longer bone is an option in the treatment of minor leg-length discrepancies. The use of a tension band plating technique to produce a temporary epiphysiodesis is appealing as it avoids the need for accurate timing of the procedure in relation to remaining growth. We performed an animal study to establish if control of growth in a long bone is possible with tension band plating. Animals (pigs) were randomised to temporary epiphysiodesis on either the right or left tibia. Implants were removed after ten weeks. Both tibiae were examined using MRI at baseline, and after ten and 15 weeks. The median interphyseal distance was significantly shorter on the treated tibiae after both ten weeks (p = 0.04) and 15 weeks (p = 0.04). On T. 1. -weighted images the metaphyseal water content was significantly reduced after ten weeks on the treated side (p = 0.04) but returned to values comparable with the untreated side at 15 weeks (p = 0.14). Return of growth was observed in all animals after removal of implants. Temporary epiphysiodesis can be obtained using tension band plating. The technique is not yet in common clinical practice but might avoid the need for the accurate timing of epiphysiodesis. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:855–60

A chart is presented to assist with the assessment and treatment of patients with growth-related deformities. It is based on anthropometric values from five published sources and relates sitting height to stature, limb length, the radiographic lengths of the leg bones and the lengths of the feet and hands. It has proved useful in the prediction of leg-length discrepancies, in the diagnosis of cases of short stature, and in the assessment of spinal shortening from scoliosis

Instability of the knee is frequently found in association with congenital leg-length discrepancy. We have studied six such patients clinically, radiologically and arthroscopically. Clinical signs of knee instability and significant radiological changes were present in all, and at arthroscopy the anterior cruciate ligament was completely absent in four patients and functionless in the other two. This deficiency appears to be a congenital condition which may predispose to meniscus injury or retropatellar pain; it may also lead to subluxation or dislocation of the knee during leg-lengthening procedures

We present the results of 38 children with leg inequality treated by circumferential periosteal release. Leg-length discrepancy was expressed as a percentage of the longer limb. All patients showed a decrease in percentage difference at one year after operation, the mean difference dropping from 7.24% to 5.45%. The size of the response was directly related to the age of the patient at operation, being more pronounced in the younger patients. The response was not related to sex, diagnosis, or rate of growth of the patient immediately preceding operation

Growth at the proximal tibial epiphyseal plate of the rat has been measured following three different growth-stimulating procedures. These were proximal periosteal release, distal periosteal release and full periosteal stripping of the diaphysis. A new radiographic method using a photographic technique has made it possible to take accurate measurements of the rate of long-bone growth in small experimental animals. From the results of this animal series we conclude that proximal tibial periosteal division is likely to be the most effective of the three procedures when used to correct leg-length discrepancy in the growing child

Discrepancy in leg length after total hip replacement has been associated with patient dissatisfaction. We prospectively studied 200 consecutive patients undergoing unilateral Charnley hip replacements to identify whether there is a demonstrable association between such disparity and postoperative function. Radiological measurements between defined points on the pelvis and femur of the operated hip were compared with the same points on the contralateral joint. A lengthening index was derived and statistical analysis used to compare this with validated functional outcome scores (Harris hip score and the SF36 Health Survey) and patient satisfaction. Our results showed no statistical association between leg-length discrepancy after hip arthroplasty and functional outcome or patient satisfaction