Summary
Epiphyseal stapling to arrest growth in the longer limb in growing children has been used in 923 cases over 26 years in the management of leg length inequality. Five hundred and three were assessed at the end of growth. Seventy-one percent had 0.5 cm to 1 cm of shortening and 80% did not need an orthosis. Although other methods are available, this technique is particularly valuable in developing countries because it needs only basic surgical facilities and the financial cost is low.
Résumé
L'épiphysiodèse, dont le rôle est d'arrêter la croissance du membre trop long chez l'enfant en cours de croissance a été utilisée, avec la technique de Blount, sur 923 cas durant les 26 dernières années, afin de corriger les inégalités de longueur des membres inférieurs. Cinq cent trois patients ont été examinés à la fin de leur période de croissance, 71% avaient un raccourcissement compris entre 0,5 cm et 1 cm et 80% n'avaient pas besoin de porter une orthèse. Diverses opérations d'allongement sont aujourd'hui possibles, et même préférables, mais le niveau élevé des équipements, la durée du séjour à l'hôpital ainsi que la surveillance technique prolongée font que ces opérations ne sont pas à la portée de la majeure partie des enfants des milieux ruraux dans les pays en voie de développement. Notre longue expérience, menée sur un nombre important d'enfants traités avec des moyens chirurgicaux réduits et un coût peu élevé, montre que cette technique peut être utilisée dans les pays non industrialisés et aussi, dans certains cas choisis, dans les pays de technologie avancée.
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Sengupta, A., Gupta, P. Epiphyseal stapling for leg equalisation in developing countries. International Orthopaedics 17, 37–42 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195222
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195222