Limb Lengthening Library

How to Read Key Limb Lengthening Studies

Representative papers with their design and generalization limits
Kirane et al.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
2014
Level IV Case Series
Precision of the PRECICE Internal Bone Lengthening Nail
An early single-center review of first-generation PRECICE use across varied limb-discrepancy indications. It informed device accuracy and early complications, but its small sample and short follow-up do not establish modern long-term or cosmetic outcomes.
Patients
24
Mean follow-up
14 weeks
PMID
24682741
Paley D.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
1990
Classification Framework
Problems, Obstacles, and Complications of Limb Lengthening
Established a treatment-course classification: nonoperatively resolved problems, operatively resolved obstacles, and intraoperative or unresolved complications. It is a reporting framework, not a current prevalence estimate.
Original context
Ilizarov treatment
Use
Adverse-event reporting
PMID
2403498
Barakat et al.
Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction
2020
Narrative Review
Lengthening Nails for Distraction Osteogenesis
Reviews the evolution and extended uses of lengthening nails and includes four institutional case examples. It is useful for technical context, but it was not a systematic comparative effectiveness review.
Literature method
Nonsystematic
Case examples
4
PMID
33363643
Sheridan, Fragomen & Rozbruch
JAAOS Global Research & Reviews
2020
Systematic Review & Meta-analysis
Integrated Versus Classical Limb Lengthening
Compared external-fixator-only treatment with a broad integrated category that pooled LON, LATN, and fully implantable nails. Different bones, indications, devices, and eras limit patient-specific prediction.
Comparison
Broad method groups
Main caution
Clinical heterogeneity
PMID
32656477
Frost et al.
Acta Orthopaedica
2023
Multicenter Retrospective Cohort
Complications and Risk Factors of Intramedullary Bone Lengthening Nails
Reviewed 314 FITBONE and PRECICE segments in 257 patients at two hospitals. Mixed indications, mostly FITBONE implants, and mostly femoral segments make the cohort valuable for signal detection but not a cosmetic PRECICE-only risk calculator.
Patients
257
Segments
314
PMCID
PMC9940487
Giorgino et al.
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
2025
Systematic Review
Aesthetic Lower-Limb Lengthening Techniques
Synthesized 12 observational studies of 760 aesthetic patients. Variation in technique, definitions, follow-up, and outcome instruments prevented pooled meta-analysis, so its findings should be read as a narrative evidence map.
Studies
12
Patients
760
PMID
40275369
⚠ Important context: Do not compare headline percentages until you align the indication, bone segment, device generation, unit of analysis, adverse-event definition, follow-up, and study design. A patient, a lengthened segment, an implant, and an event are different denominators.
Representative reading set, not an exhaustive or ranked review. Identifiers are supplied for verification in PubMed or PubMed Central.
Literature and device status should be rechecked before publication or clinical use.
Educational reference only. Not medical advice. Study findings describe populations and methods; they do not predict an individual outcome.