Limb salvage in tibial hemimelia.

OBJECTIVE

To study the results of treatment of tibial hemimelia with limb salvage procedure in term of patient satisfaction, clinical results and complications.

METHODS

From 1993 to 2007 the authors treated six cases of tibial hemimelia with limb salvage procedures. Three legs of type Ia and four legs of type IV tibial hemimelia classified by Jones classification. The age at the operation ranged from 2 to 11 years. For type Ia cases, the Brown procedure,foot centralization and ilizarov lengthening of the fibula were used to correct limb length discrepancy. For type IV the foot centralization, soft tissue release and ilizarov lengthening were used to correct limb length discrepancy. The follow-up range from 4 to 10 years.

RESULTS

In two patients with type Ia, one patient could bear weight without gait aids, the other walked with orthosis and axillary crutch because this patient had bilateral Ia type and knee instability with progressive flexion contracture due to weakness of the quadriceps muscle. All patients with type IV can walk independently without gait aids. Three patients were performed limb lengthening. One case was fibular lengthening following Brown procedure in Ia type. Two cases were tibial lengthening in type IV The mean lengthening was 5.1 cm. Mean lengthening index was 2.4. Satisfactory functional and cosmetic results were achieved in all patients with partial deficiency, whereas in patients with completely deficiency of the limbs, none of the 3 knees treated by fibular transfer achieved a satisfactory functional result because of insufficient quadriceps strength, progressive knee flexion contracture and persistent ligamentous instability. Nevertheless, in these 3 legs, all patients were ultimately able to withstand weight bearing.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients and families were satisfied even though patients must have multiple surgery to correct deformities of the foot and the knee joint, as well as leg-length discrepancy and also a prolong treatment time. Limb salvage procedure in tibial hemimelia is appropriate in Thai culture because patients can weight with bare feet in the house and have sensation in the feet.