Distraction osteogenesis (callotasis) for pelvic closure in bladder exstrophy

The success of urogenital reconstruction in bladder exstrophy is dependent on how successfully the pelvic ring can be closed. In patients with this disorder, the pubic bones are short and separated. A two-component plate-rod combination was designed to widen the pelvic ring using distraction osteogenesis (callotasis). After a middiagonal iliac osteotomy, two components of the implant are connected with two bolts passing through the iliac bone. After 10 days, the rods outside the skin are approximated gradually. When the pubic bones get close, they are fixed by heavy nonabsorbable sutures. The current study included 14 patients who were operated on between 1990 and 1996. The mean followup was 6 years. No neurologic or vascular complications developed. Successful tension-free closure of the abdominal wall was achieved in all but one patient. Urogenital reconstruction was done in the second stage. In all but one patient, the bladder was closed in one stage of urogenital reconstruction. In one patient (7%), a deep infection developed for which the patient needed early implant removal resulting in failure of the urogenital reconstruction. The described method addresses the pathoanatomy of the pelvic ring. The diameter of the pelvic ring can be widened and the pubic bones can be approximated without a significant increase in tension.