Home Current Issue Previous Issues For Authors Journal Info
Skip Navigation LinksHome > September 2007 - Volume 27 - Issue 6 > Results of Screw Epiphysiodesis for the Treatment of Limb Le...
Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics:
September 2007 - Volume 27 - Issue 6 - pp 623-628
doi: 10.1097/BPO.0b013e318093f4f4
Limb Length Discrepancy: Original Article

Results of Screw Epiphysiodesis for the Treatment of Limb Length Discrepancy and Angular Deformity

Khoury, Joseph G. MD; Tavares, Joao O. MD; McConnell, Sharon MS; Zeiders, Gregory DO; Sanders, James O. MD

Collapse Box

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the technique of screw epiphysiodesis for effectiveness, predictability, and reversibility. We reviewed the cases of our first 60 patients (105 physes) treated with percutaneous screw epiphysiodesis or hemiepiphysiodesis. All cases were followed up to maturity or screw removal if growth remained after full correction. A total of 30 patients underwent the procedure for limb length inequality. Final inequality was compared with the predicted epiphysiodesis effect. A total of 30patients (66 physes) underwent screw hemiepiphysiodesis for the correction of angular deformity. The degree of correction per month was calculated, the reversibility of the procedure was analyzed, and complications were evaluated. In the length group, at the end of treatment, the final limb length difference in the femur averaged 0.15 cm (SD, ±0.37 cm) from the epiphysiodesis effect predicted by using the multiplier method. In the tibia, this difference was 0.05 cm (SD, ±0.57 cm). In the angular group, the average correction in the distal femur was 6.91 degrees (SD, ±3.75 degrees) or 0.75 degrees per month (SD, ±0.45 degrees per month). In the proximal tibia, the average correction was 3.88 degrees (SD, ±3.57 degrees) or 0.37 degrees per month (SD, ±0.34 degrees per month). In all 13 cases where the screws were removed at the time of angular correction with significant growth remaining, growth resumed. Complications were minor and were related to incorrect placement of screws or minor hardware irritation. Percutaneous screw epiphysiodesis is a reliable, minimally invasive method with reliable results in both length and angular correction, with minimal morbidity, and with an acceptable complication rate.

© 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

You currently do not have access to this article.

You may need to:

Note: If your society membership provides for full-access to this article, you may need to login on your society’s web site first.

Article Tools

You currently do not have access to this article.

You may need to:

Note: If your society membership provides for full-access to this article, you may need to login on your society’s web site first.

Search for Similar Articles
You may search for similar articles that contain these same keywords or you may modify the keyword list to augment your search.