Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение «Российский научно-исследовательский институт травматологии и ортопедии им. Р.Р. Вредена» Министерства здравоохранения Российской Федерации, г. Санкт-Петербург, Россия

Background. The introduction of the combined and sequential application of transosseous and intramedullary blocked osteosynthesis in limb lengthening requires an experimental study of the features of distraction regenerate. For small animals (in particular rabbits), special models are required.Aims. To develop experimental models of sequential and combined use of transosseous and intramedullary osteosynthesis in limb lengthening and substantiate their effectiveness.Materials and methods. A comparative study was carried out on 30 rabbits of the Soviet Chinchilla breed. Experimental models of sequential (EM-1) and combined (EM-2) application of transosseous and intramedullary osteosynthesis with preservation of the apparatus during the fixation period to simulate blockage were studied in the main groups. For comparison, sequential (comparison model 1 – CM-1) and combined (comparison model 2 – CM-2) use of transosseous and intramedullary osteosynthesis with dismantling of the apparatus at the end of distraction were modeled. The control was a regenerate formed according to the classical Ilizarov method. Radiographs were performed in dynamics, CT and morphological studies – at the end of the fixation period.Results. It was noted that regenerates of the same type in structure were formed in the EM-1 and CM-1 groups, as in the EM-2 and CM-2 groups. With successive methods, the spindle-shaped form of the regenerate prevailed, the formation of a pronounced periosteal component was noted. Powerful cortical plates, according to morphological studies, are formed from the periosteal and intermediate zones. With combined techniques, the cortical plates are formed thinner and predominantly from the periosteal component, the shape of the regenerate is closer to fusiform. In the comparison groups, the total time of surgical interventions was 25–50 % longer, in 50 % of cases there was a loss of length or deformation of the regenerate.Conclusions. The developed models of sequential and combined use of transosseous and intramedullary osteosynthesis for limb lengthening with preservation of fixation with an apparatus to simulate blocking have proven to be reliable in terms of fixation and easy to use on small laboratory animals..

Background. The methods of “lengthening over the nail” (LON) and the sequential use of the external fixation and nailing in the option “lengthening and then the nail” (LATN) are characterized by ignoring non-observance of the formulated by G.A. Ilizarov is the most important condition for optimizing the osteogenesis process, namely, the preservation of medullary blood supply and osteogenic bone marrow tissue. At the same time, in clinical practice, there was no negative effect of the intramedullary nail on the formation of the regenerate. In experimental studies, the activation of periosteal bone formation during LON is noted. But the active periosteal bone formation detected in clinical practice with a sequential technique has not been confirmed by experimental studies.The aim of the study was to compare the organotypical rebuilding of the distraction regenerate during tibial lengthening in rabbits according to Ilizarov, over the intramedullary fixator and with the sequential use of the external fixation and nailing.Materials and Methods. The study was carried out on 54 mature rabbits of the Soviet Chinchilla breed, which were divided into 3 groups of 18 animals. In Gr-1 (control), the tibia was lengthened by 1 cm in a mini-Ilizarov apparatus at a rate of 1 mm per day for 4 sessions step. In Gr-2, the LATN technique was modeled. After the end of lengthening, an intramedullary fixator was implanted installed, the apparatus with the presence of wires only in the base supports was kept as an imitation of blocking the intramedullary fixator. In Gr-3, lengthening was performed over the intramedullary fixator; at the end of lengthening, the wires were left only in the base supports. The fixation period was is 30 days. The total duration of the experiment is 45 days. On the 10th, 15th, 20th, 30th, 45th day X-ray, CT and morphological studies were performed during the experiment.Results. In the experimental groups, a more pronounced periosteal bone formation in the area of regenerates was noted, while in Gr-3 (LON) cortical plates were formed mainly from the periosteal component, and in Gr-2 (LATN) wide cortical plates were formed from the intermediate and periosteal areas. In this group, the maximum densitometric density values are noted. Endosteal bone formation was preserved in all groups.Conclusion. The LON and LATN techniques, when compared with the classical Ilizarov lengthening, do not demonstrate any deficiency in the organotypical rebuilding of the bone tissue of the regenerates. All zones of bone formation are present, including endosteal, with intense periosteal bone formation. The most powerful bone structures are formed with the sequential use of the external fixation and nailing (LATN) in the form of the formation of wide cortical plates due to the intermediate and periosteal zones of the regenerate.

Introduction. Lengthening over the nail (LON) combines the advantages of external and internal fixations.The objective was to compare the effectiveness of the application, to assess the structure and frequency of complications in patients treated with lengthening by Ilizarov technique and lengthening over the nail.Methods and materials. We analyzed 55 LON cases and 64 cases lengthening by Ilizarov technique. The duration of the external fixation period, complications and quality of the patient life were compared.Results. The external fixation period in LON group was 4 times less than in the Ilizarov technique group. There were 25 complications (45.5 %) in LON group and 54 complications (84.4 %) in the Ilizarov technique group. Femur lengthening was associated with a greater number of complications in both groups. Pin infections were 2.5 times less frequently in the femur LON group. Knee contractures were only in Ilizarov technique group (11.4 %). Ankle joint contracture was noted with the same frequency during tibial lengthening in both groups. Disorders of the consolidation were 2 times more often in the femur LON group and 5 times more often in the tibial lengthening with Ilizarov technique. Premature fusion was observed only in the LON group. There were 2 times less fractures of the half-pins and wires in the LON group.Conclusions. A reduction of external fixation period in LON group correlates with the 2-fold decrease of complications and an increase of the treatment comfort. LON is promising for wider clinical applications.