Ilizarov external fixation in the correction of severe pediatric foot and ankle deformities.

Most of the evidence to date on the Ilizarov method in the management of complex foot and ankle deformities in children is based on expert opinion and retrospective case series. Often the technique is used as a salvage option where conventional techniques are inappropriate or have failed. The decision to use the Ilizarov external fixator to an alternative technique depends on several issues: complexity of the pathology, patient compliance, surgeon skills, and the capacity of the institution to manage patients with multidisciplinary requirements. Nevertheless, the Ilizarov method has proved to be a valuable tool for the satisfactory management of many previously unresolved clinical problems. With greater experience and further developments, the exact place of this powerful treatment modality will become clearer and even more successful.