Abstract
Hemihypertrophy refers to the unilateral overgrowth of the limbs. The shorter limb is considered to be unaffected an important treatment. Three patients with idiopathic hemihypertrophy of lower extremity were treated by lengthening of the unaffected leg with an Ilizarov external fixator. Corticotomy and lengthening were performed at the proximal tibia. The ages at corticotomy were 6, 8, and 20 years, respectively. The amounts of lengthening were 4cm, 4.5cm and 2cm respectively. Healing indices were 33 days/cm, 31 days/cm, and 65 days/cm respectively. Complications included pin tract infection, breakage of a half pin, and fracture of lengthening callus, all of which were treated successfully. Both of the skeletally immature patients had slight valgus deformity of the treated leg at follow-up examination a few years after lengthening. However, all three patients expressed satisfaction with the results of lengthening.
