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Human active natural growth ends in majority of cases before 20 years. After this, low height problem may be solved by only two ways – growth stimulators administration or surgical operations (distraction osteosynthesis). At this considerable results are possible only in artificial lengthening of lower extremities bones length by various construction devices.

All distraction osteosynthesis methods may be divided into three main groups:
 * external methods
 * internal (intraosseal) methods
 * combined (mixed) methods.

If we base on distraction osteosynthesis history, we logically can present the methods in the following order: external methods, combined methods, internal methods.

All methods general features:

1. A bone is always dissected (actually – artificial fracture). This is the place, where additional length will be received.

2. There is artificial regeneration process prolongation by distraction (gradual bone parts separation with average speed 1 mm a day). The bone “young” regenerate is stretched to planned length, and is totally formed (ossified) only after distraction termination.

3. At all methods muscles and tendons undergo stretching stress (various methods only change this stretching conditions).

General demands to all methods:

1. Stiff solid bone fragments fixation until the moment of complete bone co-ossification («device-bone» complex).

2. Gradual distraction (lengthening). In other words, favorable conditions creation for “young bone”, regenerate that is between stretching bone fragments.

3. Sparing environment for muscles and joints during stretching and regeneration.

External methods
Characteristic features of external methods are:
 * external construction presence (outside a body)
 * power clusters (for distraction activation) are situated on external construction
 * bone fixation (creation of common «device-bone complex») due to spokes (rods) that run through leg segment. Spokes (rods) ends are fixated in external device
 * distraction due to separation of external device elements (increases distance between spokes, which fixate various bone zones)

Transosseous compression-distraction osteosynthesis in shin and hip lengthening
Starting from 1960-s external compression-distraction devices gained maximal popularity. This was caused by devices construction changes and more progressive for that time surgical intervention method.

Applied devices were based on usage of Volkov-Oganesyan spokes (Fig. 1.1), Gudushauri (Fig. 1.2), and Ilizarov (Fig. 1.3)

Ilizarov method became wide-spread in many world countries. G.A.Ilizarov method is universal. Ilizarov device (see Fig. 1.3) – is external ring clamp, consisting of split rings with fixation possibility of bars, spikes and rods in it. The device construction foresees its composition in various variants (Fig. 1.4, Fig. 1.5) depending on exact clinical task.

Combined methods
External methods characteristics:
 * during protraction period external device is used (fixation and distraction functions);
 * after lengthening the external device is removed, and a rod is implanted into bone (that provides for more stable fixation comparing to external device)

"External device-bone" complex – is using of spikes (rods) that counteract closed regeneration process. Organism «perimeter» is not closed in spikes penetration zones. External construction (device) – is discomfort for a patient, negative conditions for muscles and joints, and infectious complications risk. This is because combined methods appeared, which task is shortening of external (open) fixation time. The lengthening is provided by external device, which is removed immediately (rods are taken off) after distraction completion. Fixation after external device removal is provided by intraosseous rod (osteosynthesis).

Wasserschtein method. Intraperiosteal osteotomy of shin-bone in medium one-third and of fibula in lower one-third was carried out; the fragments were fixated inside the bone by flat metal rod. As distraction device Gudushauri or Ilizarov device was used .After lengthening completion with distraction speed 2 mm per day, diastasis between bone fragments was substituted by homocylindrical transplant with longitudinal notch (Fig. 1.6 left).



Sanchis Olmos (see Fig. 1.6 right) proposed to insert inset-separator from patient shin-bone between bone fragments with the same lengthening method. J. Kepf proposed after lengthening completion in transosseous way to block the rod in order to exclude fragments rotation shifting. D. Paley used simultaneously external device (Ilizarov device, one-sided "Orthofix" device), and intramedullary rod for hip lengthening. Authors J. E. Herzenberg и D. Paley, carried out by the same way device shin lengthening (LON).

Internal methods (devices)
Internal methods characteristics:
 * intraosseous device completes distraction and fixation functions without external constructions;
 * soft tissues (skin, muscles, fascia) remain intact (do not contact with devices).

In distraction osteosynthesis by external devices the spikes overcome (cut) soft tissues resistance (skin, fascia, muscles) during lengthening. There is contact-conflict between multidirectional forces along the whole immersion depth of spike (spikes) into body: distraction force against resistance force. Therefore, methods without external constructions appeared.

=== Internal method with drive device (Bliskunov, Dragan) === At early 1980-s professor Bliskunov created method of completely closed distraction osteosynthesis. Prof. Bliskunov proposed intraosseous devices for hip. Afterwards, V. Dragan MD, DMSc invented intraosseous device for shin (tibia) lengthening (Fig. 1.8). The particular feature in these devices (Bliskunov method) is mechanical drive, which work initiates (activates) the device: 18 mechanism clicks – 1 mm (hip), 56 clicks – 1 mm for shin. (Fig. 1.7)

The devices are made of titanium alloy and are fixated to the lengthening bones. The nail lengthens on a ratcheting principle. The device works like a lever and considerably facilitates the process of lengthening. There are two designs for the clicker. One is for the tibia (shin) and the other is for the femur (hip).

With the Bliskinov nail the patient has an opportunity to independently lengthen by him/herself. In order to lengthen the hip a patient makes a side-movement by the leg (diversion) till mechanism action ("click" sound). To lengthen the shin a patient alternately presses on drive wings (the drive is situated under soft tissues and works as pendulum). The devices activation is painless. The devices provide a smooth lengthening process without harsh jerks and deleterious twisting along the bone. This approach is very important for gradual adaptation of muscles, nerves and tendons to the newly lengthened limb.

Method Albizzia
Method Albizzia	J.-M.Guichet. Telescopic corpus of Albizzia device (Fig. 1.9, 1.10) consists of two tubes – external (1) and internal (2), connected by mechanism that allows lengthening through rotation in one direction. Due to mechanism that counteracts sliding tube backward shifting (tube that pulls out) the turn in opposite direction returns the system into neutral position without lengthening loss. Rotation angle of inner rod part is 18–20º. 15 reverse motions correspond to 1 mm of lengthening.

ISKD device
ISKD device (skeletal kinetic distractor) was proposed by company Orthofix. Its work principle resembles that of Albizzia device. This is intramedullary rod with mechanical distraction, created for hip (Fig. 1.11) and shin (Fig. 1.12). Its proximal and distal parts are connected inside by thread and two one-sided clamps. In rotation from 3 to 9º these clamps are activated. 1 mm of distraction is achieved after 160 extremity rotation movements. Actual distraction length is controlled by external manual monitor, which assesses magnet orientation in distal part of internal threaded rod. Patients change day distraction minimum five times a day. If distraction length is not significant, the lower extremity is rotated under monitor control till the desirable length achievement.

Fitbon system
Fitbon system was developed by German constructors  for hip (Fig. 1.13) and shin lengthening (Fig. 1.14). The method peculiar feature is device activation by electromagnetic impulses.

The rod consists of two parts: external corpus (1), where special mechanism is situated – highly sensitive epicyclic drive (produced by Wittenstein Intens Company, which specializes on high accuracy drives), two holes for fixating screws (2), and telescopic rod (3) with two holes for screws (4). Special electric aggregate (5 on Fig. 1.14) sends electric impulses to antenna (receiver) (6) under patient skin, connected to epicyclic drive, which in its turn moves telescopic rod (3) with impulsive force up to 200 kg (600 microimpulses)/ By R. Baumgart and A. Betz [23] this is enough to counteract muscle resistance during distraction.