a variety of surgical procedures used to correct legs of unequal lengths,
Leg lengthening is performed under general anesthesia, so that the patient is deep asleep and can't feel pain.
a leg bone grows more slowly in one leg than on the other leg.
Jean Marc Guichet
Epiphysiodesis usually has good outcomes when performed at the correct time in the growth period,
Specific risks associated with LLD surgery include: osteomyelitis (bone infection)
After the operation, nursing staff teach patients how to clean and care for the skin around the pins that attach the external fixator to the limb (pinsite care)
The most common surgery is tendon lengthening to treat equinus. In this procedure, the Achilles tendon is cut and the leg is placed in a cast in a more normal position.
A tenotomy or tendonotomy is a surgical incision into a tendon for the purpose of lengthening it.
IndicationsThe most common bones treated with lengthening procedures are the bones of the leg, the tibia and the femur.Surgical treatment may be recommended for severe unequal leg lengths caused by:poliomyelitis and cerebral palsysmall, weak (atrophied) muscles or short, tight (spastic) muscles may cause deformities and prevent normal leg growthhip diseases such as Legg-Perthes diseaseprevious injuries or bone fractures that may stimulate excessive bone growthabnormal spinal curvatures (scoliosis)birth defects (congenital deformities) of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, or ligamentsProcedureWhile the child is deep asleep and pain-free (using general anesthesia), the surgeons carefully study the blood vessels and blood supply to the bone. An incision is made in the bone to be lengthened; usually the lower leg bone (tibia) or upper leg bone (femur). Metal pins or screws are inserted into and through the skin and bone above and below the bone incision and the skin incision is stitched closed. A metal device (such as an Ilizarov device) is attached to the screws in the bone and will be used later to gradually "crank" the cut bone apart, creating a space between the ends of the cut bone, which heals to form new bone. The lengthening device is used very gradually, lengthening the bone in extremely small steps, usually over the course of several months.AftercareThe device used to lengthen the leg after placement of the pins usually must stay in place for many months. The leg is gradually lengthened over this time, and the patient is usually able to walk with the device in place. Multiple surgeries are usually required to effect significant lengthening of the limb.Reviewed ByReview Date: 11/12/2010Neil 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.
It is the lengthening of the stem and roots.
It is the lengthening of the stem and roots.
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