Polarographic monitoring of regional circulation state during surgical leg lengthening

Purpose. To determine the dynamics of tissue blood supply in the leg being lengthened using current techniques of blood supply evaluation including transcutaneous polarography. Materials and Methods. Oxygen condition in tissues and the leg blood flow rate were studied in order to determine the markers of ischemic disorders in tissues for surgical lengthening of limbs with growth retardation according to Ilizarov (n=80). The high level of oxygen tension and capillary blood flow in the leg and foot tissues was revealed in children before treatment. Results. Oxygen tension in the leg tissues during distraction decreased within 30%, and that of carbon dioxide - increased, the magistral type of blood flow in regenerated bone vessels was determined. 35 mm Hg was a critical level of arterial oxygen tension decrease, after that the rate of the regional blood flow in the regenerated bone and the leg tissues began to increase significantly. Conclusion. The dynamics of blood flow in the regenerated bone microvessels during distraction, fixation and in the immediate periods after limb lengthening can be controlled in patients using the method of ultrasound dopplerography.