Problems with bone healing, alignment, or infection can occur after bone trauma. Nonunion is when the bone does not heal properly leaving the limb with pain and instability. When a fracture heals in a deformed position or with shortening of the limb, this is called a malunion. In children, the growth plate can sustain damage that results in limb deformity and shortening. Bone loss after infection and trauma can lead to a limb threatening situation. In all these cases, surgeons in the Limb Lengthening and Complex Reconstruction Service (LLCRS) can restore your limb alignment, length, and stability and get you back to full activity.
BeforeAfter
BeforeAfter
BeforeAfter
JoseAfter a serious motorcycle accident, Jose spent over 4 months in the hospital undergoing multiple surgeries to fix his broken bones and injuries. Doctors contemplated amputating his left leg, which had weakened and shortened due to the trauma and subsequent bone defect and infection. Jose thought he would never walk again.
JohnJohn's Story: I resumed activities I loved that I had long given up on like snow boarding and surfing and began new ones like yoga that were previously impossible.
SuzanneSuzanne's Story: Words cannot adequately describe the difference my leg lengthening has made in my life.
ChadChad's Story: Today, I do "everything" I did before my accident.
JamesJames's Story: The strength, assertiveness, and confidence you showed in working on saving my leg is something me and my wife really, really needed.
- Geiger, Erik J. MD, Geffner, Adam D. BS, Rozbruch, S. Robert MD, Fragomen, Austin T. MD. Management of Segmental Tibia Bone Defects with the Magnetic Motorized Intramedullary Transport Nail: A Case Series. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma ():10.1097/BOT.0000000000002574, January 26, 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000002574
- Fragomen AT, Wellman D, Rozbruch SR. The PRECICE magnetic IM compression nail for long bone nonunions: a preliminary report. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2019 Nov;139(11):1551-1560. DOI: 10.1007/s00402-019-03225-4. Epub 2019 Jun 19.
- Grand Rounds from HSS: Management of Complex Cases, Winter 2010, Volume 1, Issue 1
- Repair of Tibial Nonunions and Bone Defects with the Taylor Spatial Frame, published in Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, February 2008.
- Simultaneous Treatment of Tibial Bone and Soft-tissue Defects With the Ilizarov Method, published in Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, March 2006 (pdf)
- Nonunions and Malunions by S. Robert Rozbruch, MD and Kevin Pugh, MD published in Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Trauma v.3, 2005.
Case 1: Correction of a Tibia Nonunion
Case 26: Correction of a Valgus and Short Femur Using the EBI External Fixator
Case 27: Correction of a Distal Tibial Nonunion with an Ilizarov Frame
Case 37: Bone Transport Using Trifocal Technique with the Ilizarov/Taylor Spatial Frame