New bone has been known to form with callus distraction for a long time, yet its first therapeutical application was by Ilizarov. For the stepwise distraction of an osteotomy gap, various systems of fixation and transportation have been developed. The Augsburg and Basel systems, basing on the tubular AO external fixator, require only limited supplementing of implants. The most elegant and "physiological" way is certainly continuous callus distraction using an internal electrical motor, as the Munich intramedullary nail. In the long run, all systems will probably be changed to allow continuous distraction.