Plating After Lengthening

Prolonged time in an external fixator during limb reconstruction increases the risk of pin site infection, hardware breakage, and soft tissue contractures. This can cause patient dissatisfaction. Plating after lengthening is a method to reduce the time in external fixation. It is a practical technique in large bone defect reconstruction or delayed callus consolidation – especially in the metaphyseal area. The principles of this surgical technique are presented in a patient who sustained a motorcycle accident, which resulted in a septic pseudarthrosis.