Evolution of Epiphysiodesis Surgery

Abstract

Surgical modulation of physeal growth, currently better known as “Guided Growth”, is a procedure used as a treatment for length differences or axis alterations of the extremities. Although its use is increasing due to the development of new less invasive techniques, there are no statistical analyzes in the literature that support this.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of the surgery codified as “Epiphysiodesis (Femur and/or Tibia)” in the Chilean population, from January 1st, 2010 to December 31, 2019, the days of hospital stay associated with that code and the demographic data of the analyzed population.

Patients and Method: We obtained from the Chilean Department of Statistics and Health Information (DEIS) database, all hospital discharges from January 1st, 2010 to December 31, 2019, from which we extracted the results with the code “Epiphysiodesis (Femur and/or Tibia)”, in children under 15 years. The number of procedures per year, days of hospital stay, age, and sex were analyzed.

Results: In Chile, the number of procedures coded as “Epiphysiodesis (Femur and/or Tibia)” increased during the period analyzed. The days of hospital stay decreased progressively between 2012 and 2017. The procedure was performed mostly in women, and in the 5-9 years age group, showing an upward trend in children of the group of 10-14 years between 2015 and 2019.

Conclusions: Further analysis must be carried out to determine the factors that produce these results, which are probably related to access to more efficient and simple techniques, with less morbidity