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Ilizarov Frame on Model Tibia

AssociatedAssociated with Woodend Hospital (Oldmill Hospital)

Date1990-2004

Object NameIIlizarov Frame

MediumSteel, plastic

ClassificationsMedicine and Healthcare

Dimensions21 x 41cm

AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Mr G P Ashcroft.

LocationView by Appointment

Object numberABDMS069413

Keywords

About MeFrom the unlikely resources of wartime Kurgan in Siberia the Soviet surgeon Gavril Abramovich Ilizarov developed an orthopaedic technique which has become standard practice throughout the world. Using bicycle spokes and metal from a local factory Ilizarov designed a form of external fixation for treatment of fractures, deformities and bone defects. External fixation simply means securing a bone or limb in a particular position using wires or pins passed through skin into a bone and attached to an external frame. The fixation was not itself revolutionary, this has been practised for a hundred years. What was significant was the form the fixation took and its use of ingrowing bone and other tissues. He discovered by accident that bone deformities could be corrected and limbs lengthened by means of biological or tension stress. By creating a man made fracture, waiting for several days and then gradually lengthening the leg (at a maximum of 1mm a day), he could grow bone in the resultant gap whilst the nerves, muscles, tendons and vessels would also lengthen. Rather than avoiding stress from weight by immobilising a limb in a cast he showed that fractured bone could grow and heal faster with weightbearing and rigid physiotherapy regimes lasting many hours every day were forced upon the patients. Ilizarov's circular external frame and wires create a unique construct, allowing only up and down trampolining movement of the bone. By applying hinges or rods the bone and limb can be lengthened, bent and rotated. During the bone growing process the patient actually adjusts the frame at fixed intervals day and night. This technique can be used on a wide range of orthopaedic problems apart from simple fractures. It has been used to correct congenital deformities (short or deformed limbs), treat infected bone and lengthen short amputation stumps. Ilizarov's methods only came to the Soviet Unions notice in 1967 when he successfully treated an Olympic high jumper and it was only after treating the famous Italian explorer Carlo Mauri in 1978 that he became known in the west. Even then surgeons did not believe that his technique could work, and it took until 1989 for the Ilizarov technique to be tried in the UK. It has now gained world-wide acceptance.

The Ilazarov technique has been one of the standard orthopaedic techniques used in the Aberdeen Hospitals since 1995. Over 100 patients have had frames applied for congenital deformity, severe fractures, leg lengthening, and bone infection. Approximately 15-25 frames are applied every year. One of the top Russian surgeons from the Kurgan Ilizarov Institute worked in the Plastic Surgery Department of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. He provided training in the regrowing of fingers using a special Russian frame. Plastic surgery staff have since visited Russia and such finger lengthening is now becoming routine. This model is typical of the type used to demonstrate the technique of stress management of fracture and deformities.