Complications

The rate of minor complications in limb lengthening surgery is very high. Almost every patient will some problem, most commonly pin track infection.

General complications may include:

• infection around the pins or screws:
  • the most common complication
  • good pin hygiene and removal of affected pins and a short course of antibiotics are usually required
    
    
• neurovascular problems related to pin insertion are rare
  
  
• failure to achieve sufficient regeneration or consolidation may be due to underlying bone pathology or to an inappropriate distraction rate
  
  
• angular deformity - usually varus deformity in the femur and valgus deformity of the tibia - may result from non- axial stressing
  
  
• joint contracture from muscle imbalance during lengthening - such as an equinus deformity at the ankle