LATN
Lengthening And Then Nailing
External fixator drives the distraction phase; once length is achieved, an internal nail is inserted and the frame removed.
How it works
LATN is a variant of LON. The external fixator is used only during the distraction phase; at the end, the patient returns to theatre, an intramedullary nail is placed, and the external frame is removed. Consolidation then occurs with the internal nail providing stability.
At a glance
- Typical gain
- 5–8 cm
- Total recovery
- 16–28 weeks
- Distraction sites
- femur, tibia
- External hardware
- Yes
- Status
- Actively used
Advantages
- ✓Lower cost than fully-internal techniques
- ✓Fixator time limited to distraction phase
Considerations
- •Two separate surgeries (fixator removal + nail insertion)
- •Pin site care during distraction
Clinics offering LATN (5)

Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute
Dr. Dror Paley, MD, FRCSC

Hospital for Special Surgery
Dr. S. Robert Rozbruch, MD, FAAOS

LimbplastX Institute
Dr. Kevin Debiparshad, MD, FRCSC

Donghoon Advanced Lengthening Reconstruction Institute
Dr. Donghoon Lee, MD, PhD (Yonsei University)
Paley Middle East Clinic
Dr. Dror Paley, MD, FRCSC