Al-Sayyad Mohammed J, Alshoaibi Fahad A, Alshuaibi Ammar A, Almohammadi Ayman F, Almaghrabi Hatim A, Alsaady Abdullah M, Alsayyad Jalal M
Department of Orthopedics, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, SAU.
Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, SAU.
Cureus. 2025 Jan 10;17(1):e77212. doi: 10.7759/cureus.77212. eCollection 2025 Jan.
Limb length discrepancies (LLDs) can be treated with limb lengthening using external fixation or intramedullary nails, such as PRECICE or FITBONE. PRECICE is a magnetically driven titanium nail, while FITBONE is a motorized nail; both use an external remote control. This study aimed to determine the complications, compensation of length difference, time needed for compensation, and healing outcome of bone lengthening using motorized or magnet-driven intramedullary nails among non-cosmetic limb lengthening cases.
This retrospective study was derived from a single surgeon's practice at a tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Between 2009 and 2020, 15 patients with LLDs, with a mean age of 25.43 years (range 16-35 years), were identified. The study included congenital, post-traumatic, idiopathic, and acquired causes of LLDs. Outcomes were measured using complete lengthening and healing indices, which need the presence of three intact cortices out of four.
All patients achieved correction of their limb length without any device failure or nail breakage. The achieved limb length for all patients averaged 38.4 mm, ranging from 21 to 60 mm. No intraoperative complications were observed. Postoperatively, one patient reported knee stiffness, and another developed deep venous thrombosis. Duration of distraction (average 43.93 days, range 30-66 days) and the mean healing index was 32 days/cm for both the femur and tibia.
This study confirms that intramedullary nail PRECICE 2 and FITBONE systems are reliable and effective lengthening devices for treating lower LLDs and deformities. These devices significantly reduce complications and achieve excellent outcomes.
肢体长度差异（LLD）可通过使用外固定或髓内钉进行肢体延长来治疗，例如PRECICE或FITBONE。PRECICE是一种磁驱动钛钉，而FITBONE是一种电动钉；两者均使用外部遥控器。本研究旨在确定在非美容性肢体延长病例中，使用电动或磁驱动髓内钉进行骨延长的并发症、长度差异补偿、补偿所需时间以及愈合结果。
这项回顾性研究来自沙特阿拉伯吉达一家三级医院的一位外科医生的临床实践。在2009年至2020年期间，确定了15例LLD患者，平均年龄为25.43岁（范围16 - 35岁）。该研究包括LLD的先天性、创伤后、特发性和后天性病因。使用完全延长和愈合指数来衡量结果，这需要在四个皮质中有三个完整。
所有患者均实现了肢体长度的矫正，且无任何器械故障或钉子断裂。所有患者实现的肢体长度平均为38.4毫米，范围为21至60毫米。未观察到术中并发症。术后，一名患者报告膝关节僵硬，另一名患者发生深静脉血栓形成。股骨和胫骨的牵张持续时间（平均43.93天，范围30 - 66天）和平均愈合指数均为32天/厘米。
本研究证实，髓内钉PRECICE 2和FITBONE系统是治疗下肢LLD和畸形的可靠且有效的延长装置。这些装置显著减少并发症并取得优异结果。
