All-Union Symposium "Experimental-theoretical and clinical aspects of the method of transosseous osteosynthesis" (Kurgan, September 20-22, 1983)

The symposium was attended by about 500 specialists, 72 of them from foreign countries. The symposium was opened by Deputy Minister of Health of the USSR A. G. Safonov. Then the Hero of Socialist Labor, Lenin Prize laureate Prof. G. A. Ilizarov made a report "The importance of a complex of optimal mechanical and biological factors in the regenerative process in transosseous osteosynthesis." The speaker noted that such traditional methods of treatment as plaster cast, skeletal traction and metal internal fixators, still used in traumatology and orthopedics, do not ensure the immobility of bone fragments. In addition, internal fixators damage blood vessels, periosteum, endost and bone marrow; their removal is quite difficult and traumatic. Only with stable fixation of precisely prepared fragments, careful attitude to osteogenic tissues, good blood supply to them, preservation of the musculoskeletal function of the limb, optimal mechanical and biological conditions are created for accelerated formation of bone fusion and functional recovery. These conditions are achievable with the use of strong fixation of bone fragments in the Ilizarov apparatus, with closed osteoclasia and distraction in automatic mode up to 1.9 mm per day. Transosseous osteosynthesis allows bloodless treatment of all closed fractures; to compensate for large defects of soft tissues, blood vessels, nerves of bone without transplantation and in one stage even in conditions of infection; to thicken the bone and its fragments. Ilizarov's method makes it possible to eliminate the false joint and shortening of the limb bloodlessly and in one stage; to delay the growth or lengthen the limbs; to eliminate deformities of long tubular bones and joint contractures. Transosseous osteosynthesis is used for the purpose of bloodless prolonging arthrodesis of large joints; for compaction of bone tissue; excitation of osteogenesis and its management to fill bone cysts and foci in Ollier's disease. In addition, it can be used to lengthen a limb and at the same time eliminate its deformation; fix joints with arthroplasty on hinges, cure syndactyly and replace the skin without transplantation; lengthen and change the axis of the spine; simulate a limb, stump, finger; expand the pelvis, increase the vessel. The method can be used on an outpatient basis.