Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: May 23, 2023
Date Accepted: Sep 29, 2023
Quality of Life of Children with Achondroplasia in Paired Limb Lengthening with an External Fixator with Modified Distraction Control: observational, non-randomized study with historical control.
ABSTRACT
Background:
The purpose of this study is to compare the quality of life (postoperative pain syndrome, physical activity, emotional state) of children with achondroplasia during paired limb lengthening with the external fixator with modified distraction control and circular multiaxial system developed by the authors.
Objective:
Comparative analysis of the quality of life (postoperative pain syndrome, physical activity, emotional state) of children with achondroplasia during paired limb lengthening with an external fixator with modified distraction control and circular multiaxial system developed by the authors.
Methods:
The study group consisted of 14 patients (eight boys and six girls) in the age group from 5 to 15 years (mean age 7.6 ± 2.3 years) with genetically confirmed diagnosis of achondroplasia. All patients underwent paired limb lengthening with an external fixator with modified distraction control developed by the authors. The control group consisted of 9 patients (3 boys and 6 girls) of the same age group (mean age at the time of surgery was 8.6 ± 2.3 years) who underwent limb lengthening using the circular multiaxial system.
Results:
In the latent phase (7–10 days after surgery), a significant decrease in the quality of life was noted both in patients of the experimental group (the external fixator with modified distraction control was used) and the control group (the circular multiaxial system was used). At dynamic observation at a later period after surgery, these differences decreased, and the level of satisfaction with quality of life in patients in the main group 18 months after surgery was statistically significantly higher than the preoperative level (p<0.01).
Conclusions:
The external fixator with modified distraction control developed by the authors provides a higher standard of living in comparison with the circular multiaxial system in the latency phase. Clinical Trial: None.
Citation
Per the author's request the PDF is not available.
Copyright
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