This study evaluated the effect of limb lengthening on longitudinal growth in patients with achondroplasia. Growth of the lower extremity was assessed retrospectively by serial radiographs in 35 skeletally immature patients with achondroplasia who underwent bilateral limb lengthening (Group 1), and in 12 skeletally immature patients with achondroplasia who did not (Group 2). In Group 1, 23 patients underwent only tibial lengthening (Group 1a) and 12 patients underwent tibial and femoral lengthening sequentially (Group 1b).

The mean lengthening in the tibia was 9.2 cm (59.5%) in Group 1a, and 9.0 cm (58.2%) in the tibia and 10.2 cm (54.3%) in the femur in Group 1b. The mean follow-up was 9.3 years (8.6 to 10.3). The final mean total length of lower extremity in Group 1a was 526.6 mm (501.3 to 552.9) at the time of skeletal maturity and 610.1 mm (577.6 to 638.6) in Group 1b, compared with 457.0 mm (411.7 to 502.3) in Group 2. However, the mean actual length, representing the length solely grown from the physis without the length of distraction, showed that there was a significant disturbance of growth after limb lengthening. In Group 1a, a mean decrease of 22.4 mm (21.3 to 23.1) (4.9%) was observed in the actual limb length when compared with Group 2, and a greater mean decrease of 38.9 mm (37.2 to 40.8) (8.5%) was observed in Group 1b when compared with Group 2 at skeletal maturity.

In Group 1, the mean actual limb length was 16.5 mm (15.8 to 17.2) (3.6%) shorter in Group 1b when compared with Group 1a at the time of skeletal maturity. Premature physeal closure was seen mostly in the proximal tibia and the distal femur with relative preservation of proximal femur and distal tibia.

We suggest that significant disturbance of growth can occur after extensive limb lengthening in patients with achondroplasia, and therefore, this should be included in pre-operative counselling of these patients and their parents.

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.

The results of the treatment of 31 open femoral fractures (29 patients) with significant bone loss in a single trauma unit were reviewed. A protocol of early soft-tissue and bony debridement was followed by skeletal stabilisation using a locked intramedullary nail or a dynamic condylar plate for diaphyseal and metaphyseal fractures respectively. Soft-tissue closure was obtained within 48 hours then followed, if required, by elective bone grafting with or without exchange nailing.

The mean time to union was 51 weeks (20 to 156). The time to union and functional outcome were largely dependent upon the location and extent of the bone loss. It was achieved more rapidly in fractures with wedge defects than in those with segmental bone loss. Fractures with metaphyseal defects healed more rapidly than those of comparable size in the diaphysis. Complications were more common in fractures with greater bone loss, and included stiffness of the knee, malunion and limb-length discrepancy.

Based on our findings, we have produced an algorithm for the treatment of these injuries. We conclude that satisfactory results can be achieved in most femoral fractures with bone loss using initial debridement and skeletal stabilisation to maintain length, with further procedures as required.

We reviewed 15 patients, nine girls and six boys, with chronic anterior dislocation of the radial head which was treated by ulnar osteotomy, external fixation and open reconstruction of the elbow joint but without repair of the annular ligament. Their mean age was 9.5 years (5 to 15) and the mean interval between the injury and reconstruction was 22 months (2 months to 7 years).

All radial heads remained reduced at a mean follow-up of 20 months (6 months to 5 years). Normal ranges of movement for flexion, extension, pronation and supination were unchanged in 96.1% (49/51) and worse in 3.9% (2/51). Limited ranges of movement were improved in 77.8% (7/9), unchanged in 11% (1/9) and further decreased in 11% (1/9).There were two superficial pin-track infections and two cases of delayed union but with no serious complications. Reconstruction of the radiocapitellar joint is easier using external fixation since accurate correction of the ulna can be determined empirically and active functional exercises started immediately. Only patients with a radial head of normal shape were selected for treatment by this method.