ILIZAROV APPARATUS – A BREAKTHROUGH IN ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

HISTORICAL NOTES

Abstract

Dr. Gavriil Ilizarov is one of the most significant names in the orthopedic field, his innovations in bone deformities treatment, fracture management and limb lengthening being successfully used up until now. Although at first his principles were hardly accepted by his colleagues, his work was confirmed with many studies worldwide and his technique became the basis of modern practices. Ilizarov external fixator evolved from being a last resort solution to a method used to treat a great number of bone disorders. One of the most famous principle is “distraction osteogenesis” also called “callotasis” or “callus distraction”, a technique involving slow distraction of the callus in response to a corticotomy. It has the benefit of increasing both bone length and surrounding tissues. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of the history of Ilizarov apparatus, the mechanical laws that underlie it, the current clinical use, the most important complications and future research.