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. 2013 Oct;7(4):285-8.
doi: 10.1007/s11832-013-0506-7. Epub 2013 Jul 3.

Eight plate should not be used for treating leg length discrepancy

Henrik Lauge-Pedersen  1 , Gunnar Hägglund  1
Affiliations

Eight plate should not be used for treating leg length discrepancy

Henrik Lauge-Pedersen et al. J Child Orthop. 2013 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: The Blount staple has been widely used for treating angular deformities and leg length discrepancy (LLD) of the lower limbs. In recent years, the Eight plate has replaced the Blount staple for treating angular deformities in many centres. Although not described in the literature, it has been proposed that the Eight plate could also be used for treating LLD. We studied the effectiveness of the device for this indication.

Methods: Ten patients with LLD were included prospectively. Medial and lateral plates were inserted for symmetrical growth reduction and the patients were followed by radiostereometric analysis (RSA) 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 52 and 80 weeks postoperatively. The error of measurement with this technique is less than 0.05 mm.

Results: Case 1 continued to grow an average of 0.08 mm per week (6.7 mm longitudinal growth in 1.5 years) postoperatively, while Case 2 showed 0.07 mm longitudinal growth per week (5.6 mm longitudinal growth in 1.5 years). The longitudinal growth, in both children, showed only slight growth retardation throughout the follow-up period. The study was interrupted and no further subjects were included after the results indicated that only minor growth reduction had occurred in both patients.

Conclusion: The Eight plate does not significantly reduce growth when applied both medially and laterally in a symmetrical way at the proximal tibial physis.

Keywords: Eight plate; Leg length discrepancy; Physiodesis; Radiostereometric analysis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Longitudinal growth of the proximal tibia, measured using radiostereometric analysis (RSA). a Typical growth retardation of the proximal tibia after percutaneous physiodesis, b Case 1 and c Case 2
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Case 1: an 11-year-old boy treated with a medial and lateral Eight plate and tantalum markers for radiostereometric analysis (RSA); left postoperatively, right at 1-year follow-up, showing widening of the screws. b Case 2: an 11-year-old girl treated with a medial and lateral Eight plate and tantalum markers for RSA; left postoperatively, right at 1-year follow-up, showing widening of the screws
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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