The correction of a 140 mm lower limb difference as a late complication of a childhood meningococcal sepsis with a fully implantable system.

Abstract

Meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis) are the typical agents of a severe septic shock with fulminate diseases. Many children survive the initial phase of shock today; there are several late complications such as limb differences, large scar areas and impaired soft tissue. The current case report deals with the impaired bone growth and a resulting lower limb difference as a late complication of meningococcal sepsis. Usually, these cases are corrected by external fixator systems. In the present case, a lower leg-length difference of 140 mm was uneventfully corrected in two operative steps by fully implantable systems despite the presence of large scars and seriously affected soft tissue. In conclusion, fully implantable systems, even in difficult cases, may be an excellent alternative to external fixator systems.