Abstract
Aims: is to evaluate the efficiency of the Sheffield Ring Fixator (SRF) in the management of posttraumatic tibial Deformity. Introduction: Correction of tibial deformity as a consequence of malunion or injury to the growth plate is challenging. Progressive correction is usually necessary due to the low compliance of the anatomical compartments. The SRF provides an effective solution. Materials and Methods: a consecutive series of 30 patients with posttraumatic tibial deformity treated by progressive correction using the SRF between 1997 and 2000. The mean age was 33 years (range 18 to 65). Cases were analysed to ascertain the degree of deformity, treatment time, final outcome in terms of the accuracy of correction of deformity, and incidence of complications. Results: Full correction was achieved in 27 of the 30 cases: two patients had residual angular deformities of 7 and 10 degrees and one had 15mm residual shortening. Satisfactory bone formation occurred in all cases. There were no significant complications. The mean correction time was dependent on whether or not lengthening had been performed (72 and 53 days respectively). From this study the correction time can be estimated as 2 days per degree plus an extra 0.5 days per degree for every centimetre of length to be gained. Conclusion: Knowledge of the efficiency of the system will enable an estimation of treatment times to be made thereby facilitating the setting of goals for both patient and surgeon. Accuracy of correction and total treatment times were satisfactory suggesting that the fixation system was both stable and yet sufficiently elastic to permit good bone healing
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
