Limb lengthening by physeal distraction

I evaluated 10 consecutive lengthenings through the upper tibial physis in 9 patients. A bilateral frame consisting of two small-sized Wagner devices and two pairs of 4-mm transfixing pins with 5-mm-diameter central threads were used. The median lengthening was 6.7 cm. Complications were frequent. The risk of a growth disturbance is very high, and physeal distraction should therefore only be applied towards the end of the growth period.