Patient's question:
I am currently in the middle-aged category. Since I am not tall and my partner is taller than me, I want to consider a leg lengthening surgery. How long would it approximately take?Doctor's answer:
Hello, bone lengthening is an effective method for treating lower limb shortening. The specific method involves artificially closing and cutting the long bones at the metaphyseal ends of the lower limbs, and then fixing them with an external fixator (typically using the ILIALOV circular frame) at both the upper and lower ends. After about a week, the lower limb is straightened using screws, usually at a rate of 0.5-1.0 millimeters per day. The main principle is to stimulate bone fracture regeneration through traction, achieving the goal of lengthening the limb. The maximum extension is approximately 10 centimeters, and rapid or excessive limb lengthening can lead to damage to the lower limb's nerves and blood vessels. During the stretching process, we must pay attention to observing changes in peripheral sensation, motor function, and blood circulation. If there are abnormalities, we should stop the stretching promptly.