Ten patients treated with Ilizarov external fixator for limb lengthening were monitored with radiographs and sonography examinations between March, 2001 and March, 2002. Most of the patients were children and adolescents who were submitted to surgery for correction of congenital deformities (six cases). In three patients shortening was secondary to post-traumatic osteomielitis and in one patient due to tumor resection. The femur was affected in 60%, tibia in 30% and fibula in 10% of the cases. The main radiographic findings of bone regeneration during the normal process of limb lengthening were lucent areas, linear ossification, periosteal reaction, soft tissue abnormalities and complete consolidation. Sonographic findings of new bone formation included anechoic areas, sparse echogenic foci within the distraction site, linear longitudinally oriented echogenic foci, amorphous and coarse echogenic foci and complete calcification. There were 15 complications in six patients: fluid collection at the distraction site (five cases), pin site infection (four cases), soft tissue collection (three cases), premature consolidation (two cases) and delayed consolidation (one case).

Keywords: Ilizarov, Limb lengthening, Radiography, Sonography