Subluxation of the knee as a complication of femoral lengthening by the Wagner technique

Abstract

Twenty-one patients with leg-length inequality underwent lengthening using the Wagner technique. When reviewed, 7 were found to have varying degrees of posterior subluxation of the knee. Critical assessment demonstrated that each of these was associated with a hypoplastic femur. It is postulated that posterior displacement of the tibia on the femur occurred as a result of the distal femoral and intraarticular bony deficiencies.