Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between arterial cannulations and the development of limb length discrepancies in childhood or impaired growth of the proximal femur.
Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 300 children who required arterial cannulation and/or cardiac catheterisation during childhood in relation to congenital heart diseases. Seven of these patients were referred from the Paediatric Cardiology clinic due to a limb length discrepancy and/or proximal femoral deformities.
Results: Seven children, with a mean age of 10 years, were referred to our clinic. The mean length discrepancy was 2.7cm, and was more frequent on the right side. Three of the patients presented with proximal femoral deformities: two cases of caput valgum and one of bilateral physeal arrest of the greater trochanter. All children were initially treated with a shoe lift in the shortest limb. One of them required a tibial lengthening and two others are awaiting a similar procedure.
Conclusion: We recommend clinical and radiological follow-up of patients who have undergone catheterisation during their infancy due to the relationship between these techniques and the risk of developing a limb length discrepancy.
Keywords: Cannulation; Cateterismo; Discrepancia de longitud; Infants; Limb length shortening; Neonatos.
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