Experimental and clinical studies on the reduction of bone lengthening terms at the Ilizarov Center

Introduction The list of pathological conditions that need surgical correction of bone length is very long. In the literature on the topic under discussion, it is reported that the best results are obtained by lengthening according to the Ilizarov method. But many surgeons are not satisfied with the long duration of external fixation, which requires a large number of adjustments and patient compliance. The aim of this work is a analysis of the modern technologies for limb lengthening that actually shorten the time of osteosynthesis using the apparatus for external fixation. Materials and methods Literary sources have been analyzed since the first publication on limb lengthening according to Ilizarov in 1963. The search was carried out in the databases of the RSCI, NCBI Pubmed, Medline. The developments of the employees of the Ilizarov Center are presented. Results An analysis of the literature showed that the fixation units of the apparatus, units for providing movement for distraction, compression and correction of angles have been improved. The invasiveness of the surgical intervention is minimized. Best results can be obtained using automatic lengthening. The Ilizarov Center has developed and experimentally proven methods for reducing the period of distraction and the period of fixation with the apparatus. We combined three factors: an increased round-the-clock distraction rate (2 or 3 mm) with a motorized distractor adjusted to the Ilizarov frame and fixation reinforcement along with regeneration stimulation with HA-coated intramedullary wires in our experimental and clinical trials. This technology has easily conquered a number of clinical practices in Russia, France and Serbia. Conclusion Experimental and clinical substantiation of a two- or three-fold increase in the rate of automated distraction in the conditions of intramedullary reinforcement with a bioactive implant can drastically reduce not only the time of the distraction period, but also the duration of the fixation period with the Ilizarov apparatus.