Leg lengthening.

Two hundred eleven leg lengthening operations have been carried out at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London, in 192 patients between 1966 and 1977. The results were analyzed in the 143 patients who had reached skeletal maturity. A 5 cm gain in length using Anderson's modification of Abbott's lengthening machine was achieved in 21 femora and 122 tibiae. There was no significant difference in the sexes, 98 boys and 94 girls. Average difference in leg length before operation was 5.75 cm (11.7--3.0 cm). Average reduction in difference 3.06 cm (7.5--4.5 cm). Average difference at maturity 2.48 cm (9.5--0.5 cm). Fractures occurred in 30 patients all of which united, but some lost part of the length gained. Most serious was a decision to amputate in 2 patients due to severe discrepancy in one patient and foot deformity in another. There were no failures of union, no long-term sepsis and no deaths.