Testa Gianluca, Marchetti Michela, Sapienza Marco, Ilardo Martina, Mangano Sebastiano, Condorelli Giuseppe, Pavone Vito
Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Section of Orthopaedics, A.O.U. Policlinico Rodolico-San Marco, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
J Clin Med. 2025 Feb 8;14(4):1091. doi: 10.3390/jcm14041091.
Limb lengthening is a surgical procedure intended to correct discrepancies and deformities in limb length or to enhance limb length for functional or cosmetic reasons. Short stature, often seen as a physical condition, can significantly affect a patient's quality of life. The advancement of limb lengthening methods, including the creation of hexapod external fixation systems, has heightened the precision and efficacy of these procedures. The Taylor spatial frame (TSF), a form of hexapod external fixator, grants three-dimensional control of bone movement and is increasingly used to rectify deformities and lengthen limbs. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of the hexapod external fixator in limb lengthening and deformity correction compared to other external fixation systems, focusing on outcomes such as achieved lengthening, healing index, complications, and follow-up duration. : A structured search was engineered in four crucial search engines (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline) spanning 2004 to 2024. : The studies included in this review indicate that the average lengthening accomplished with the hexapod fixator ranged from 3 to 5.9 cm, with a healing index between 37 and 68.6 days/cm. The most frequent complications were pin site infections, compartment syndrome, and delayed union. The follow-up duration ranged from 6.8 months to 6 years. These studies also compared the hexapod external fixator with other external fixators, showing that while the TSF allowed more accurate deformity corrections, it often displayed a higher healing index. : The hexapod external fixator, specifically the TSF, is an effective instrument for limb lengthening and deformity correction in patients with short stature. Although it provides superior three-dimensional control for deformity correction, the healing index and treatment duration can be longer compared to traditional external fixators. Further studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up are needed to perfect treatment protocols and thoroughly evaluate the long-term outcomes and complications associated with this technique.
肢体延长是一种外科手术,旨在纠正肢体长度的差异和畸形,或出于功能或美容原因增加肢体长度。身材矮小常被视为一种身体状况,会显著影响患者的生活质量。肢体延长方法的进步,包括六足外固定系统的发明,提高了这些手术的精度和效果。泰勒空间框架(TSF)是六足外固定器的一种形式,可对骨骼运动进行三维控制,越来越多地用于矫正畸形和延长肢体。本系统评价旨在评估六足外固定器与其他外固定系统相比在肢体延长和畸形矫正中的有效性,重点关注诸如延长长度、愈合指数、并发症和随访时间等结果。:在2004年至2024年期间,在四个关键搜索引擎(PubMed、Scopus、科学网和Medline)中进行了结构化搜索。:本评价纳入的研究表明,六足固定器实现的平均延长长度为3至5.9厘米,愈合指数为37至68.6天/厘米。最常见的并发症是针道感染、骨筋膜室综合征和延迟愈合。随访时间为6.8个月至6年。这些研究还将六足外固定器与其他外固定器进行了比较,结果表明,虽然TSF允许更精确的畸形矫正,但它的愈合指数通常更高。:六足外固定器,特别是TSF,是身材矮小患者肢体延长和畸形矫正的有效工具。尽管它在畸形矫正方面提供了卓越的三维控制,但与传统外固定器相比,愈合指数和治疗时间可能更长。需要进行更大样本量和更长随访时间的进一步研究,以完善治疗方案,并全面评估与该技术相关的长期结果和并发症。