Surgical Techniques for Lengthening and Deformity Correction of the Femur With Lengthening Nails

Abstract

Limb lengthening and deformity correction using fully implantable nails have gained increasing acceptance. The nails used in these procedures are either straight or have an acute proximal angle such that they differ from standard trauma nails, which have sagittal radius of curvature. Use of straight nails must take into account both the bowed shape of the femur and the prevention of coronal plane translation along the mechanical axis after femoral lengthening along the anatomic axis. Here, we describe the preoperative planning, surgical technique, and postoperative complications of lengthening with fully implantable nails in patients with femoral deformities and length discrepancies.