Question
I’m now in my middle-aged years, and because of my short stature, I’m not as tall as my partner. So, I’m considering a leg bone lengthening surgery. I want to know how long it generally takes?
Answer
Bone lengthening is an effective treatment for lower limb shortening. The specific method involves artificially closing and cutting the long bones at the distal end of the lower limb, and using an external fixator (usually an ILIALOV circular stent) to secure it at the upper and lower ends. Approximately one week later, the lower limb is straightened using screws, typically extending by 0.5-1.0 millimeters per day. The main principle is to use traction to stimulate the regeneration of the bone fracture ends, thereby achieving limb extension. The maximum extension is about 10 centimeters, and extending the limbs too quickly or too much can lead to nerve and vascular damage in the lower limbs. During the stretching process, we must pay attention to observe changes in surrounding sensation, movement, and blood circulation. If there are any abnormalities, we should stop stretching immediately.