The study of biohumoral parameters during surgical limb lengthening

The authors report a series of 7 patients undergoing surgical limb extension with a total of 9 segmentary extensions. The study focuses on the trend of 4 biohumoral parameters (ESR, PCR, leukocytes, neutrophil percentage) during the various stages of surgery. The authors conclude that, in conjunction with clinical assessment, these parameters represent a valid tool for monitoring infections during the course of extension. Of these parameters, PCR was found to be the most sensitive marker. If evaluated using the general trend of these markers, surgical limb lengthening is not dissimilar to the fracture healing process.