Elongating rods have been used in the management of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) for the last 50 years; complication rates have been high in many reviews of available techniques.

The functional outcomes and complications of a cohort of 22 Osteogenesis Imperfecta patients treated with 66 Sheffield Telescopic Intramedullary Rods at an average of 19 years post-initial surgery are analysed. The revision rate was 35% for any reason, 20% excluding revisions for rods separating due to growth. Re-operation other than revisions occurred in 10 rods (15%). Mobility was significantly better in the initial post-operative period (p=0.0015), this difference maintained in adulthood (p=0.0077). Back pain was the most frequent symptom. Symptoms related to the insertion technique across the knee and ankle were rare but those related to femoral trochanteric entry were common. Physeal damage following surgery was not experienced and all rods elongated.

All patients were satisfied with the outcome of their surgeries. SF-36 scores were significantly different for physical functioning domains, social functioning and vitality in comparison to normal population values, but comparable to other studies of OI.

The outcomes of this technique are satisfactory in adulthood; re-operation rates are high but related mainly to outgrowing the rods. Concerns regarding insertion with this fixed device at the knee and ankle are not founded, although proximal femoral fixation remains a problem.