Limb lengthening is a surgical procedure that reduces or corrects limb length disparities. The procedure lengthens a bone in a patient’s arm or leg while simultaneously lengthening the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
The procedure of limb lengthening can be mentally and physically demanding for patients and their loved ones. Get all of your questions about the operation, its risks, and potential alternatives answered.
How does limb lengthening work?
Lengthening the legs makes use of the body’s innate capacity to produce new bone. The procedure is divided into three phases: the surgery, distraction, and consolidation.
Stage 1: Surgery
A surgeon makes a cut to extend the bone in the first step. To maintain blood flow and other biological processes that aid in bone healing, this is done in a very particular manner. A lengthening device is attached to the limb by the surgeon after the bone has been sliced. In the following step, this tool will be used to make a hole in the bone.
Following this treatment, patients usually remain in the hospital for at least one to five nights. Usually, the second stage starts after the limb has rested for a week or ten days.
Stage 2: Distraction (Lengthening Phase)
The second step involves the progressive separation of the two ends of bone, which promotes the growth of new bone to cover the space left by the lengthening. Usually, this phase takes up to two months.
The family will be instructed by the surgeon or another clinical team member on how to gradually extend the device many times during the day. The patient or a family member will then extend the gadget at home.
Throughout this phase, the surgical team will closely monitor the bone, as well as the surrounding muscles, tissues, and nerves. They may choose to halt the procedure or alter the rate at which the bone is lengthening if they notice any indications of potential problems.
Stage 3: Consolidation (Healing Phase)
The body’s natural healing mechanism keeps growing new bone to fill the void until the limb reaches its desired length. In the meantime, the bone’s surrounding ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves adapt to its increased length.
For the joints and muscles around the extending bone to remain mobile throughout the second and third stages, physical therapy is crucial.
What types of devices are used for limb lengthening?
An internal lengthening rod or an external frame can be used to extend the limbs. There are 2 types.
- Outside of the arm or leg, external fixators are worn. While some external fixators run parallel to the limb, others encircle it. Both kinds are extended with a tiny, handheld instrument and pinned to the bone. When the new bone is strong enough to support weight following the completion of the consolidation period, external devices are usually removed.
- PRECICE Nails, or internal lengthening rods, are inserted into the bone. A magnetic device is used to extend them, causing the rod to elongate. Usually, internal devices are taken out of the bone a year after they were originally placed inside. Although anesthesia is necessary for rod removal, the majority of patients go home the same day.
How long does it take to lengthen a limb?
Six to nine months, and perhaps more, are needed for limb lengthening. The lengthening of the limb is the first of several variables that determine how long it will take.
Leg lengthening typically occurs at a pace of one millimeter each day. The width of a millimeter is comparable to that of a pencil tip. It takes fifty days to extend a limb fifty millimeters (two inches) at this rate.
Depending on how the tissues, joints, and bones react to being extended, the procedure might take longer or shorter. The lengthening procedure may be slowed down or accelerated by your surgeon if the new bone is developing more slowly or more quickly than anticipated. Your surgeon may decide to temporarily stop the lengthening and allow the limb time to rest if your joints become stiff or if they see any indications of injury to your ligaments, tendons, or nerves.
Usually, the lengthening stage takes twice as long as the bone consolidation stage. It would take four months for the new bone to solidify and become strong enough to support your entire weight on your leg or lift items with your arm if lengthening took two months.
How much can a bone be lengthened?
Your age, the length of the limb that has to be lengthened (arm or leg), and other factors all affect how much lengthening is necessary.
A single lengthening cycle may usually extend a bone by 3–4 inches (up to 10 cm). The doctor might need to do the treatment more than once over a number of years if the difference in limb length is more than two inches.
How is leg lengthening different from arm lengthening?
- Different Lengths: Compared to arms, lengthening is typically accounted for minor leg-length variations. Walking, jogging, and standing upright might be hampered by a modest disparity in leg length. When variations in arm length make it difficult to do things like tie shoes, ride a bike, type, or sit comfortably in a chair with arm rests, they become an issue.
- Various Devices: Compared to arm lengthening, leg lengthening is more frequently accomplished with internal fixators. This is due to the fact that the bone must be sufficiently broad to allow for the safe insertion of an internal rod.
Are there complications of limb lengthening?
The process of extending the limbs is difficult and prone to problems. Infection surrounding the pins holding the device to the bone is one of the most frequent side effects. Since internal fixators don’t require pins, this isn’t a problem.
There are more dangerous problems. Before beginning the procedure, it is crucial to completely comprehend the dangers associated with limb lengthening.
Among the potential issues are:
- Infection at the pin site
- Contractions of muscles
- Dislocation of the joint
- Damage to blood vessels
- Damage to the nerves
- Accelerated or delayed development of bones
- Non-union bones
You will need to be seen by their surgeon frequently throughout the lengthening process. The surgeon will monitor your bones and surrounding tissues and intervene quickly if there are any signs of complications.
Is limb lengthening painful?
A lot of patients have limb discomfort during the first several weeks following surgery. Until your pain goes away, your clinical team will assist you in managing it.
Although your muscles may feel tight or uncomfortable, most patients find that the lengthening process itself is not unpleasant. Maintaining joint mobility and stretching the limb’s tissues are two benefits of physical therapy.
Who is a good candidate for limb lengthening?
- Stability of the limbs: The joints on both ends of the bone that has to be extended must be stable. If not, lengthening could lead to joint issues.
- Tissue health: Lengthening the limb may put the surrounding tissues at risk for further harm if they are scarred, for example, by trauma.
- Degree of variation in limb length: A centimeter or less discrepancy in limb length, whether in the arms or legs, usually does not affect function or posture. Shoe lifts are one way to resolve differences of up to two or two-and-a-half millimeters. Only when a limb-length disparity is interfering with your everyday activities and function is limb lengthening advised.
- Age: Because the body is more prone to produce new bone throughout childhood and early adulthood, limb lengthening is most effective during these years, however some older persons do it.
- Capacity to satisfy limb lengthening requirements: Limb lengthening is a drawn-out and complex procedure that calls for everyday effort from both you and your loved one. You will need to safeguard your limb for months while your bone and tissues heal, even after the lengthening stage.
FixTheHeight: Our Expertise in Limb Lengthening Surgery
At our clinic, we pride ourselves on our expertise in limb lengthening surgery Turkey, Our team of highly skilled orthopedic surgeons and medical professionals have extensive experience in performing limb lengthening surgeries and providing comprehensive care throughout the entire treatment journey.
In closing, if the idea of increasing your height has always intrigued you, cosmetic height surgery might hold the key. Armed with the insights from this article, you’re better equipped to make an informed decision. Remember, success lies in diligent research, expert consultations, and a clear understanding of the possibilities this journey can offer.