Acute Shortening and Then Lengthening

Acute shortening and then lengthening of a long bone is a procedure that can be used during cases of bone defects and pseudarthroses. It consists of closing the (bony) defect by compressing the bone fragments followed by callus distraction. This procedure is shown in a patient who sustained an open tibial fracture, which resulted in a nonunion and limb shortening. Acute shortening and then lengthening has several advantages: less need for local and free flaps, reduced donor-site morbidity, decreased surgical time, and fewer complications.