Difference between LON and LATN.
LON -lengthening over nail.
In this case, during the surgery the intraosseous rod and the Ilizarov apparatus are immediately installed together. The Ilizarov apparatus is used for distraction of the bones. After the ending of lengthening, the intraosseous rod is locked with a medical screw under the x-ray through a small incision and the Ilizarov apparatus is removed. The nail is removed from the bone after a complete fusion. Generally, this is not earlier than 1 year from the start of consolidation. Elongation in this manner may be limited to 5-6 cm.
LATN-
lengthening and then nail.
With this method of operation, elongation is produced by the classical scheme according to Ilizarov. Then, at the end of distraction, the Ilizarov apparatus is removed and the blocking intramedullary nail is set into the bone for fixation. This nail is fixed to the bone until a complete fusion. The nail is removed from the bone after a complete fusion. It is not earlier than 1 year from the beginning of consolidation. After removing the nail, the patient will able to walk without crutches.