Femoral callotasis

The procedure for femoral callotasis is explained, and a series of 160 lengthenings is reviewed, 60 for limb length discrepancy and 100 for short stature. Callotasis was performed in 106 subjects with a mean age of 19 years. The mean healing index (HI) of 36 days per centimeter is related more to etiology than to age or extent of lengthening. There were nine complications (15%) among subjects treated for limb discrepancies and 39 (39%) in those treated for short stature. Three permanent sequelae were recorded: necrosis of the head of the femur (two cases) and permanent extension deficit of the knee (one case). The present review assesses the type of results that can be achieved with callotasis in straightforward cases of femoral lengthening when the guidelines proposed by the author are followed. It does not attempt to compare this technique with other methods of limb lengthening.