Abstract
This report describes our experience in using extensible nails for two patients with deformity of the lower limbs. The extensible nail, which was devised by Bailey in 1963, has the ability to lengthen with bone growth.
Our cases were a 5 year-old girl with deformity of the both thighs and an 8 year-old boy with deformity of the left leg. In the first case, we operated on both femurs according to the method of Bailey-Dubou. On the right side, the girl's postoperative condition proceeded well, without complication. By 9 months after surgery, the nail had lengthened favorably with her bone growth. But on the left side, the distal femur fractured spontaneously one month after surgery and the nail migrated into the knee joint. After a second operation to change the size of the nail, her condition improved. In the second case, the same operation was performed on the boy's left tibia. His postoperative condition was quite well, with no trouble or complications observed.
Theoretically, the extensible nail is useful. However, an atraumatic technique to manipulate the nail and an appropriate rehabilitation program are needed in order to obtain better results.
