Medical & Clinical Reviews

The Using of "Guided Growth" for Correction of Coronal Deformities around the Knee in Skeletally Immature Children (Systematic review and Metaanalysis)

Introduction: Angular deformities of the lower limbs are common during childhood. The concept of guided growth using a tension band plate is a breakthrough in the surgical correction of angular deformities. This approach has yielded satisfactory results and has low complication rates.

Patients and methods: We reviewed 210 papers with overall 433 patients and 809 deformities. Inclusion criteria included papers published from 2010 to 2017 in English literature. A Meta-analysis was done on 16 papers with seven outcomes: Change in mechanical axis deviation, Tibiofemoral angle, rate of excellent outcomes, implant breakage, implant migration, inadequate reduction and rebound phenomenon.

Results: Thirty two studies were included. Fifteen of them studied treatment of angular deformities by guided growth, three of them discussed the complications of using guided growth and five studies discussed Biomechanics of using guided growth. Sixteen studies were included in our cumulative meta-analysis.

Conclusion: Guided growth is effective in treating coronal deformities around the knee in skeletally immature children wither the cause was idiopathic or pathological. There is no limitation except if physeal bar is developed or the patient near maturity. Few complications are associated with guided growth techniques including rebound phenomenon, inadequate reduction, implant breakage and implant migration.

Level of Evidence:

3 (systematic review of type 1, 2, 3 studies).

Author(s):

Yousef Ahdi Sawiris, Salah Abo-Seif and Ahmad Saeed Aly

Abstract | Full-Text | PDF

Share this