Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis using eight-plates for angular deformities of the lower extremities in children with X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets.

PURPOSES: Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis (TH) using eight-plates is one of the most frequently performed surgeries for correcting angular deformities of the lower extremities in adolescents. Rarely have studies examined children with X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets (X-LHPR) treated with TH using eight-plates. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy, the endpoint, and the complications of TH using eight-plates to correct angular deformities of the lower extremities in skeletally immature children.

METHODS: We reviewed a total of 26 children (86 physes, 52 knees) with X-LHPR (mean age of 6.2 years, range from 2 to 13 years) who underwent TH using eight-plate to correct angular deformities of the lower extremities. Radiographs and clinical records of these patients were evaluated for demographic data and related clinical factors.

RESULTS: The average correction of the mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) was 11.7 ± 8.7° (range from 1.0 to 29.7°), and the average correction of the mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) was 8.4 ± 5.0° (range from 0.3 to 16.7°). The mean deformity correction time was 22.7 months (range from 7 to 60 months), and the mean follow-up after eight-plate removal was 43.9 months (range from 24 to 101 months). Overall, 76.9% (20/26 patients) of the angular deformities of the knee were completely corrected and 15.4% (4/26) of the patients received osteotomy surgery. The femoral correction velocity (0.9° per month) was significantly higher than the proximal tibial (0.6° per month) (p = 0.02). The correction velocity of the mLDFA and mMPTA with the TH procedure was faster than that in the absence of intervention (0.9° vs. 0.2°, 0.7° vs. 0.4° per month, p < 0.05). The correction velocity of the mLDFA (1.2° vs. 0.5° per month, [Formula: see text]) and mMPTA (0.7° vs. 0.5° per month, p = 0.04) of patients whose age ≤ five years old was faster than that of patients whose age > five years old. A total of 69.2% (18/26) patients experienced one TH procedure using eight-plates only. Two patients had screw loosening (2/26, 7.7%). One patient (1/26, 3.8%) had a rebound phenomenon after the removal of eight-plate and had the TH procedure again. There was no breakage, infection, physis preclosure, or limited range of movement found in the follow-up.

CONCLUSION: TH using eight-plates is a safe and effective procedure with a relatively low incidence of complication and rebound, and it could be used as part of a streamlined treatment for younger X-LHPR patients with resistant or progressive lower limb deformity despite optimal medical treatment. Early intervention can achieve better results.