[Results of animal experiments with an implantable femur distractor for operative leg lengthening (author's transl)].

A new femur distractor for operative leg lengthening has been developed. The new instrument consists of an electronically controllable distractor set including a power unit and a two-part guide rail. The whole system can be implanted totally and gives rigid fixation throughout the period of distraction. The operations "forward motion", "stop" and "backward motion" can be regulated transcutaneously by radio control. A prototype especially developed for animal experiments has been tested successfully in sheep.