Publication:

Blount’s disease treatment outcome with Taylor spartial frame in low resource settings

Background Blount's disease is a developmental condition defined by abnormal growth of the proximal posteromedial tibial physis, which causes progressive lower limb deformity. The deformity is primarily characterized by tibia vara, procurvatum, internal tibial torsion and limb shortening. To evaluate the outcome of treatment of Blount’s disease using circular external fixation Taylor spartial frame (TSF).

Methods The limb deformity correction unit of the Orthopaedics and Trauma Department of University College Hospital, Ibadan conducted a 5-year retrospective assessment of patients who had Blount's disease correction using the TSF device between January 2019 and July 2023. The data was analyzed using the Social Sciences Statistical Package, Version 19.

Results 42 patients were recruited with 68 limbs. 26 patients (62%) had both right and left lower limb deformities. The majority were young adolescent in the age group of 11–15 years. And a male-to-female ratio of 1:2.81. They all had TSF frame application, fibulotomy and metaphyseal (proximal tibia) corticotomy and subsequently had graduated adjustment of the frame until correction is achieved, following the prescription generated from the TSF software. The highest complication observed was pin site infection in 10 patients (23.8%).

Conclusions The TSF device is considered one of the most reliable methods of achieving safe and accurate correction of the multi-planar deformities associated with severe and recurrent Blount’s disease.