Limb lengthening surgery is performed in Turkey for therapeutic reasons in most cases, but recently it has become common to do it for aesthetic reasons, as it is performed at the lowest costs and with the latest technologies in turkey.
overview of Limb lengthening surgery
The idea of limb lengthening surgery depends mainly on the self-restorative ability of the bone. as for a bone fracture, the bone repairs itself over time, the same happens with blood vessels and soft tissue, therefore doctors employ this feature to develop a process for bone lengthening.
In 1950, a Russian doctor named Gavril Ilizarov invented an external fixative device (Lisarov's device). This invention made a quantum leap in the field of Limb lengthening surgery and is still used until today.
New technologies have been developed in the field of Limb lengthening surgery, such as internal fixation devices, which we will talk about in our article.
Phases of Limb lengthening surgery
Limb lengthening surgery vary according to the different devices being used, but there are basic stages that are present in all techniques, which are:
Bone fracture stageThe doctor surgically breaks the bone.
lengthening phase (differentiation)in this stage a device is being used (internal or external), this device is fixed to the bone, then the two ends of the broken bone are gradually withdrawn, as the two ends of the broken bone are gradually lengthened up to 1 millimeter per day, and new bone is formed in this place.
hardening phaseAt this stage, the new bone thickens and hardens.
Candidates for Limb lengthening surgery
The Russian doctor Ilizarov invented the external fixation device to correct congenital defects and deformities of the limbs, such as a difference in the length between the limbs (one leg is shorter than the other), as the process aims to correct the difference to prevent problems of the spine, knee and hip, which result from walking on two legs of different lengths.
The surgery is also performed on patients with short physiques with dwarfism, and nowadays the surgery is used for cosmetic purposes in healthy people with the aim of lengthening their stature.
Types of Limb lengthening surgeries
There are several techniques through which is Limb lengthening surgery performed, some of which are done through the use of external devices surrounding the person’s skin, and others rely on the use of internal devices placed inside the bone. Among the most important methods used in lengthening the stature are the following:
Ilizarov technique
The Ilizarov technique is based on a circular external fixation device that is fixed around the bone with metal wires. Through this technology, it is possible to perform bone lengthening surgiers and treat fractures and deformities.
The device is applied to the thigh bone or leg, and the patient can walk from the day after surgery using crutches and it is relatively cheap.
One of its downsides is that there is a risk of infection where the device is placed, and this technique can be uncomfortable for the patient due to the large size of the device and may leave scars of the place of the wires connected to the skin for lengthening.
Holifix technology
It is a unilateral external device that is attached to the bones by means of fixing screws. This device is characterized by its light weight because it is made of titanium, and therefore it is lighter than the Ilizarov device.
It is distinguished from Ilizarov by less possibility of transmission of infection, more comfortable for the patient, and the possibility of leaving scars on the skin is less than Ilizarov.
One of the disadvantages of this technique is the long period of placement of the device, as the device is not removed until after the condensation phase and bone mineralization have ended.
Color technology
This technique is a combination of an external device similar to a Holifix device responsible for lengthening and an internal screw responsible for fixation which is surgically placed inside the bone.
One of the reliable and commonly used techniques, it is characterized by the ability to remove the external device early after the end of the lengthening phase, unlike the Hollifax and Ilizarov technique in which the device is removed after the condensation phase, but its cost is relatively expensive.
Precise 2 . technology
This technique relies on an internal screw only without the need for an external device. The screw is made of titanium and is surgically implanted inside the bone and is controlled by an electromagnetic device.
One of the advantages of this technique is that there is no external device that disturbs the patient, and the screw can remain inside the bone, meaning there is no need to remove the screw after the lengthening and intensification ends, as the screw has been engineered to fit the bone and the presence of the screw does not conflict with MRI.
The disadvantages of this method are that the patient needs a wheelchair during the lengthening phase because the screw is unable to stand the weight of the body.
Stride Technology
An advanced technology in orthopedics, an upgraded version of the Precise 2, also based on an internal screw only, without the need for an external device.
The screw here is made of reinforced steel, so the patient does not have to use a wheelchair, meaning that the screw can carry the weight of the body, but the cost is very expensive.
Before Limb lengthening surgery
Before nominating the patient for the lengthening process, the orthopedic surgeon should make a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition. It is possible that the discrepancy in the length of the limbs is due to a completely different medical problem that the patient is not aware of, suchscoliosis Or a deformity in the hip bone, and the patient may have a misconception about the difference in the length of his limbs.
In fact, the patient must also be fully aware of the surgical procuder and should be motivated to do so, so that the recovery period from surgery is rather long and the patient needs physiotherapy, which is done for a period of months and the patient may remain for a while on crutches, so it must be ensured that the patient is motivated and ready to undergo this surgery.
In some cases in children who have a short bone in comparison to the adjacent bone, The surgery can be repeated after a while because during the growth of the child the difference in the length of the two ends can increase to a 3 cm during the growth of the child due to a problem in the Growth plates at one end (responsible for bone growth).
After Limb lengthening surgery
In fact, the recovery period varies from patient to patient, as the condensation period may take a long time for the new bone to take its shape and hardness.
A child needs half of the recovery period that an adult needs, as children have a better ability to regenerate bone than adults.
The recovery period also depends on the length to be added to the bone, the greater the length to be added, the greater the time required for recovery.
physical therapy play physical therapy very important role in accelerating recovery, as physical therapy helps muscles stretch and maintain joint flexibility.
Patients who have done this surgery are advised to take dietary supplements containing calcium, as they need to speed up the process of healing, hardening and building new bone.
The patient is prohibited from smoking during the recovery period because smoking slows down the thickening mechanism by the new healed bone.
Results of Limb lengthening surgery
The degree of lengthening of one bone, specifically the femur, is about 5 to 8 centimeters, and lengthening the bone more than that may be associated with a higher percentage of complications, but if the patient wants to gain more centimeters, after a period of about a year, another surgery can be performed to lengthen the leg bones ( tibia) and an additional 5 to 8 cm increase, so the patient will have gained 15 cm to add to his height.
In some cases, the doctor can perform a surgery to lengthen the thigh and tibia bones at the same time, but this surgery carries a difficulty for the patient, a more difficult recovery, and the possibility of complications being higher.
My story with Limb lengthening surgery
Don Davies tells his story With the height increase surgery and how it had a great impact on his life, he says:
“I still remember the first running race that I participated in New York and I have always found great pleasure in running, swimming and cycling, in 2011 I had a severe bicycle accident while participating in the Triathlon Championship, which led to a broken thigh bone, the doctor in the hospital treated the broken bone But the fracture didn't heal well over time and I lost an inch of my femur due to the accident.
Sports was a big part of my life, so I resorted to one of the doctors who advised me about the Limb lengthening surgery, Fortunately, the procedure went very well and the difference in height between the two limbs has disappeared and I can still run and exercise until this moment.”
Risks of Limb lengthening surgery
Orthopedic surgery may be associated with some complications, including:
- infection (where the external device was placed)
- Delayed bone healing (reconstruction)
- Scars where the device was installed
- Damage to a nerve or blood vessel
- No new bone growth at the fracture site
Through good planning and cooperation between the doctor and the patient, complications can be avoided as much as possible and do not forget the patient's role in the recovery phase, which includes physical therapy.
The cost of height increase surgery in Türkiye
In fact, the cost of the operation varies according to the technique and the device used in the operation, as the Ilizarov technique is the oldest and least expensive technique, while the modern Stride technique is the most expensive.
The cost of the Ilizarov operation to lengthen the stature in Turkey starts from 17,000 US dollars, while the cost of the spinal nail operation (Persis technique) to lengthen the bones in Turkey starts from a price of 35,000 dollars, knowing that the price of the operation to increase height with an internal fixator varies according to the type of material used.
Make sure that Turkey, is your first and best choice for a Limb lengthening surgery, not only for the relatively low cost, but for the presence of several advanced surgical centers and medical staff who have successfully performed this type of surgery at a high success rate.
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