Purpose To introduce a new model of telescopic intramedullary rod (TIR), evaluate its effects on treating patients presenting with moderate and severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and to compare the findings with those of other telescopic rods. Methods A total of 21 patients (nine girls and 12 boys; mean age at first operation, 6.6 years, 1.52 to 13.18) who underwent 52 femoral operations were monitored during a mean of 9.96 years (3.39 to 14.54). Patient characteristics, telescoping rod capability and its complications were examined. Results According to the Sillence classification, we investigated one patient with type I, nine with type III and 11 with type IV OI. Revision rates at up to five years (36%) were inferior to those found for the Fassier-Duval rod (46%). The main cause of revision was fracture (15 patients), followed by rod migration (nine), and infection (two). The rod exhibited higher telescopic capacity in boys than girls. Type III most commonly required an operation; the age group with the highest number of procedures was five to ten years. Male migration was the main cause of rod migration. Conclusion The TIR has a satisfactory cost-benefit ratio with less complication rates and low production costs. The TIR is a feasible alternative to the commonly used Fassier-Duval rod. Level of Evidence IV
Posterior and anterior fusion procedures with instrumentation are well-known surgical treatments for scoliosis. Rod migration has been described as unusual complication in anterior spinal instrumentations; migration beyond pelvis is a rare complication. A 32-year-old female presented to the consultant with right thigh pain, rod migration was diagnosed, rod extraction by minimal approach was performed, and spinal instrumentation after nonunion diagnosis was underwent. A rod migration case to the right thigh is presented; this uncommon complication of spinal instrumentation should be ruled out as unusual cause of sudden pain without any other suspicions, and long-term follow-up is important to prevent and diagnose this problem.
Effects of a telescopic intramedullary rod for treating patients with osteogenesis imperfecta of the femur