Research Article

Femoral Reconstruction Using External Fixation

Table 3

Femoral deformity correction data.

Number of patients12
Number of femora14
Age (years)33.5 (range: 21–49)
Follow-up time after surgery (months)35.8 (range: 8.1–49.7)
Pre-operative deformitiesVarus (6), valgus (6), recurvatum (2), procurvatum (1), internal rotation (4)
Pre-operative medical conditionsDiabetes (1), rheumatoid arthritis (2), neuropathy (1)
Pre-operative varus (mm medial MAD)47.8 (range: 18–100)
Post-operative varus (mm medial MAD)11.1 (range: 0–25)
Pre-operative valgus (mm lateral MAD)27.7 (range: 8–57)
Post-operative valgus (mm lateral MAD)4.8 (range: 0–9)
Pre-operative LDFA (deg.)88.6 (range: 80–114)
Post-operative LFDA (deg.)91.1 (range: 84–105)
Pre-operative knee range of motion (deg.)0.71° (SD 12.4) –120° (SD 18.7)
Post-operative knee range of motion (deg.)−2.0° (SD 4.6) –116.8° (SD 20.2)
Pre-operative total LLD (cm)2.1 (range, 0.4–8.3)
Post-operative total LLD (cm)1.4 (range: 0–7.4; SD: 2.26)
Pre-operative femoral length discrepancy (cm)1.5 (range: 0.4–4.7)
Post-operative femoral length discrepancy (cm)0.7 (range: 0–3.7; SD: 1.35)
Number of patients requiring bone graft1
Distraction time (months)1.5 (range, 0.26–2.30; SD: 0.88)
Consolidation time (months)3.2 (range, 2.0–7.1; SD: 1.33)
Total time in frame (months)3.66 (range, 2.5–7.7; SD: 1.42)
External fixation index (months/cm)
ComplicationsPin site infections (3), knee contracture (2), peroneal nerve neuropraxia (1), septic arthritis of knee (1)

LLD: leg length discrepancy; ROM: range of motion; deg.: degrees; LDFA: lateral distal femoral angle; MAD: mechanical axis deviation; postoperative values in bold.