Limb lengthening surgery is an orthopedic procedure in which a bone is cut and then gradually lengthened, to correct a length difference or lengthen a leg or arm in selected cases. The aim is to correct limb length discrepancy or shortness with realistic expectations, since recovery lasts months and the risks are serious. The orthopedic surgeon decides whether it suits each case.
The operation is performed under general or spinal anesthesia. The surgeon cuts the bone precisely and stabilizes it with an external frame or an extendable nail inside the bone canal. After several days of rest, gradual lengthening begins at roughly one millimeter a day while new bone forms in the gap.
Surgery usually takes one to three hours and is followed by intensive physiotherapy. The lengthening phase lasts weeks to months, and the bone then needs several more months to harden. The final result usually appears once the bone has hardened, which may take from several months to more than a year, depending on the amount of lengthening.
The final cost is set after a medical consultant reviews your case and photos.
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It may correct a length difference between the limbs or increase leg length in suitable cases, which can improve walking and balance and reduce the effect of shortness. It does not suit everyone, and realistic expectations are essential.
It usually suits adults or teenagers who have finished growing and have a clear length difference or documented shortness, are in good general health with sound bones, and can commit to long treatment. The surgeon determines the safe amount of lengthening.
X-rays, precise measurements and blood tests are done, and it is advisable to practice physiotherapy exercises and prepare your home. Do not stop any medicine on your own, including blood thinners; the decision belongs to your doctor.
The surgeon cuts the bone with as little damage as possible and fixes the device externally or internally. After a short rest period, controlled daily lengthening begins and is monitored with regular X-rays.
Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery, but pain and muscle tightness may appear during lengthening and recovery, ranging from moderate to severe at some stages. Medication and physiotherapy help relieve it.
Recovery is long and lasts several months. It involves frequent physiotherapy sessions, exercises to prevent joint stiffness and the use of crutches or supports. Full weight bearing is allowed gradually once the bone has hardened.
It appears after the lengthened bone has healed and hardened, often after many months. The gained length usually lasts after full hardening, but long follow-up is needed to confirm that the bone and joints are sound.
They include infection around the pins, joint stiffness, delayed or failed bone healing, blood clots, nerve and vessel problems and bone deformity. These are serious risks that may call for additional operations.
The device may need adjusting, complications may need treatment, or the hardware may be removed in a second operation after the bone has healed. The surgeon explains these possibilities in advance.
You may need to stay from several days to at least two weeks after surgery, until your condition is stable and you have understood the lengthening and physiotherapy instructions. The lengthening phase needs close follow-up, so the treating doctor decides the travel date, and regular X-rays continue after returning home.
