Radiosonographic substantiation of algorithms for examination of patients during operative lengthening of the tibia.

The muscles of 70 patients with lower limb shortening due to various etiologies were studied using three radiographic diagnostic methods: contrast radiography (CR), ultrasonography (US), and computed tomography (CT). The studies were performed before surgery, during lengthening using the Ilizarov external fixator, during the fixation period following distraction, and after apparatus removal. The data compiled using these modalities described alterations in the muscles during lengthening which enabled us to develop algorithms for patient examination during the process of lower extremity lengthening with the aim of solving tactical tasks.