Physeal growth arrest of the distal radius treated by the Ilizarov technique. Report of a case.

Growth arrest of the distal radius may follow a severe injury to the growth plate. When the growth of the distal radius ceases in the child, continuing ulnar growth results in radial deviation of the hand and dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint. Treatment options in such a limb-length discrepancy are resection of the physeal bony bridge, lengthening of the shaft of the radius with bone graft using the principle of the Wagner technique, resection or epiphysiodesis of the distal ulna, and lengthening through a metaphyseal corticotomy without the use of bone graft. We report a case of metaphyseal lengthening of the radius employing the Ilizarov external fixator for controlled distraction osteogenesis.