Limb Lengthening

Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is a condition in which one of your legs/arms grow slower than the other. This results in the unequal lengths of legs/arms and is extremely troublesome. Thankfully, limb lengthening treatment can miraculously rectify this discrepancy and bring normalcy to your life. Dr. Arvind Mehra is a renowned orthopedic surgeon with extensive experience of 25 years. He has been working as a chief of orthopedic and trauma department at the Paras Hospital Gurugram and leads in nearly 300 different kinds of orthopedic surgeries per month. His expertise and proficiency with the modern equipment ensure exceptional results and has blossomed the life of numerous patients

What is limb lengthening?

Limb lengthening is a process that helps in increasing the length of the limbs to balance the length of the arms and legs. This is a surgical process in which the bones and the soft tissues are increased in length gradually. The procedure takes months and may need deformity correction during the course.

How does it work?

The bone to be lengthened is cut into two segments and lengthening devices are attached to it. An internal device is inserted into the bone and an external device used dor adjustments stays outside the body. These devices are used to pul the two segments apart and increase the length. The bone and tissues are allowed to grow to fill in the gap and increase in the overall length.

How does it happen each day?

Once the devices are in place, the bone is allowed to rest and heal for 5 to 7 days, This period is called the latency period. After this period the bone segments are separated apart each day. The separation is typically 1mm but can vary for different bones like it can be 0.75mm for tibia. This gradual pull allows the bone and tissue to grow in the gap and increase the length of the bone.

When should someone need this treatment?

The treatment is recommended for children with abnormally short legs or having different growth in the legs. The procedure is done when you have skeletally immature bones that are still growing.

Is the limb lengthening process painful?

The surgery for inserting devices is done under anesthesia and ensure that the patients do not feel pain. You may feel soreness while turning the rod to adjust the length daily. Your doctor would prescribe you medication to reduce and manage pain.