What Are the Potential Benefits and Risks of Using Magnetically Driven Antegrade Intramedullary Lengthening Nails for Femoral Lengthening to Treat Leg Length Discrepancy?

Abstract

Background Limb lengthening with magnetically driven intramedullary lengthening nails is a fast-developing field and represents an alternative to external fixators. Although previous studies have assessed the application of magnetically driven intramedullary lengthening nails, these studies have been heterogenous regarding the nailing approach, the bone treated, and the implant type; they also have

What’s New in Limb Lengthening and Deformity Correction

“…The authors also reported that complications were more common following the removal of tibial nails compared with femoral nails. Similarly, Frommer et al retrospectively reviewed 90 patients who had undergone femoral lengthening using an antegrade intramedullary magnetic lengthening nail 43 . The authors determined that, despite a 76% complication rate that included additional unplanned surgical procedures, problems with the distraction rate, and some knee joint stiffness, these nails had, for distraction, a 94% accuracy rate and a 90% precision rate.…”

CORR Insights®: What Are the Potential Benefits and Risks of Using Magnetically Driven Antegrade Intramedullary Lengthening Nails for Femoral Lengthening to Treat Leg Length Discrepancy?

“…In this well-performed study, Frommer and colleagues [3] analyzed the radiographic results of patients with > 2 cm of limb shortening who underwent femoral lengthening using an antegrade, trochanteric-entry titanium lengthening nail. An experienced group of limb lengtheners employed a standardized surgical technique in a very select group of patients in this The authors noted that adjustment of distraction rate was the most common (27%; 24 of 90) complication.…”

Letter to the Editor: What Are the Potential Benefits and Risks of Using Magnetically Driven Antegrade Intramedullary Lengthening Nails for Femoral Lengthening to Treat Leg Length Discrepancy?

“…I’d also like to provide an overview of the study itself. Frommer et al [1] was a retrospective series of adolescent patients (14 to 17 years of age) with a femoral leg length difference of about 3 cm to 5 cm from about 15 different causes. For lengthening nail implantation, the patients were hospitalized for a median (interquartile range) of 9 days (6 to 10 days) and had prolonged non- or partial weightbearing until consolidation.…”

“…The study by Frommer et al [1] highlights the numerous problems and complications associated with magnetically driven antegrade intramedullary lengthening nails for femoral lengthening to treat leg length discrepancy. Their work shows us that this surgical approach does not bring about satisfactory results compared to more-established methods.…”

“…I read the study, “What Are the Potential Benefits and Risks of Using Magnetically Driven Antegrade Intramedullary Lengthening Nails for Femoral Lengthening to Treat Leg Length Discrepancy?” by Frommer et al [1] with great interest.…”