Complications of Elongating Intramedullary Rods in the Treatment of Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Five patients with osteogenesis imperfecta underwent multiple osteotomies and intramedullary rodding with 18 Bailey rods for lower extremity deformities. The average age at insertion of the first rod was 6.2 years and average follow-up was 6.1 years. Only one fracture had occured in a bone after correct placement of a rod, causing the rod components to disarticulate. There were a total of 18 complications following insertion of the Bailey rods, for an overall complication rate of 61%. Tibial rods were more prone to complications than femoral. 14 of the 18 complications required reoperations, during which five tibial rods required one or two rod reinsertions. Although the Bailey rods appear to be effective for preventing fractures and deformities of lower limbe in skeletally immature osteogenesis imperfecta patients, a new intramedullary rod system is necessary to overcome many of the problems assosciated with Bailey rods.