Leg lengthening and shortening

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After bone lengthening:

• The child will spend a week or longer in the hospital.
• Frequent visits to the doctor are needed to adjust the lengthening device. How long the lengthening devidce is used depends on the amount of lengthening needed. Physical therapy is needed to maintain normal range of motion.
• Special care of the pins or screws holding the device is needed to prevent infection.
• How long it takes the bone to heal depends on the amount of lengthening. Each centimeter of lengthening takes 36 days of healing.

Because the blood vessels, muscles, and skin are involved, careful and frequent checking of the skin color, temperature, and sensation of the foot and toes is important. This will help identify any damage to blood vessels, muscles, or nerves as early as possible.

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Bone growth restriction (epiphysiodesis) is usually successful when it is performed at the correct time in the growth period. However, it may cause short stature.

Bone shortening may achieve more exact correction than bone restriction, but it requires a much longer recovery period.

Bone lengthening is completely successful only 40% of the time, and has a much higher rate of complications.

Review Date: 11/12/2010
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).