Limb Lengthening Surgery

Limb Lengthening Surgery is planned exclusive to individuals. Many details such as the technique to be applied, the process of treatment, hospitalization, the orthopedic surgeons selected, the city and district where the operation will be performed are the factors affecting the Limb Lengthening Surgery price.

Limb Lengthening in Turkey is cost-effective and hygienically, a contrast to other countries:

In cases of dwarfism, the target length is 1.50 cm for females and 1.60 cm for males in limb lengthening surgery. In the case of limb lengthening surgery for aesthetic purposes, the target length is determined according to the request of the person.
 

Limb Lengthening Surgery is planned exclusive to individuals. The expectation of the person, joint motion gap, the condition of the muscles and the capacity of the bone are considered to be important in this planning.
 

Limb Lengthening Surgery is operated through 3 methods: Intra-bone, extra-bone and combined system...
 

The intra-bone method is preferred in aesthetic Limb Lengthening Surgery; while health-based lengthening operations such as dwarfism are performed by the extra-bone method.

Ideally accepted Limb Lengthening Surgery method is the one performed both with intra-bone and external-bone interventions, called combined method and surgeries of which the recovery process is more comfortable and faster.
 

Limb Lengthening Surgeries are operations that last 1-1.5 hours under general anesthesia. Postoperative treatment duration varies depending on the target length and daily rate of lengthening. The expected daily lengthening rate of Limb Lengthening Surgery is 1 mm.
 

This target millimeter can be reduced or increased depending on the quality of bone formation. If an average of 1 mm lengthening per day is assumed, the time to reach a person's target cm is planned based on this target value.

In other words, if the person targets for a lengthening of 5 cm, then the treatment process should be planned at least 50 days.

Click for more information

Limb Lengthening Surgery consists of 6 processes in total; 
 

Lower age limit for Limb Lengthening Surgery is set as 3 years of age. For children who are below the percentile value in the age group and who cannot catch their peers in height, Limb Lengthening surgery can be planned from the age of 3 years.
 

Limb Lengthening Surgery involves a painful operation and treatment process. The person will have severe postoperative pain. Post-operative pain is at a level that can be relieved by the pain relievers recommended by your doctor.
 

The limb lengthening surgery is based on a process by separating the bone, to provide gradually growing new bone and soft tissues such as skin, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, etc. Lengthening works by regenerating bone and soft tissue approximately 1 mm per day.
 

Height surgery provides height gain is accomplished by lengthening both the femurs (about 8 cm for the femurs) and tibia (about 6.5 cm for the tibia). Limb lengthening procedures involve height gain of approximately between 7,5 cm - 14.5 cm.

For lengthening and deformity correction, the bone is usually cut through a 1-cm (<0.5-inch) incision to minimize injury to tissue. Rehabilitation starts the day after surgery. Extra-bone system and/or intra-bone system is inserted into the marrow of the bone and is fixed to the upper and lower part of the bone with screws.
 

Lengthening usually begins a few days or a week after surgery (latency period). The lengthening rate is usually planned as 1 mm per day but may be slower or faster depending on the tolerance of the bone and soft tissues to the distraction process. As the extra bone or/and intra bone system activated, the telescopic rod lengthens, which lengthens the bone and soft tissues.
 

During the distraction phase physical therapy is required. Physical therapy is designed to stretch muscles. This will help the muscles grow and maintain joint flexibility.

LON, Holyfix, Ilizarov, STRYDE and PRECICE 2 are the names of the methods used to lengthen the bones in the arms or legs.

Click for more information

Many potential risks are associated with limb lengthening surgery. These risks are associated unlikely in most cases, but, should they occur, they can be corrected by surgery. 
 

● Limb Lengthening Surgery may cause damage and adverse effect on neurovascular structures.
 

● The bone might nonunion, 
 

● Leg length discrepancy,
 

● Nerve stretch injury,
 

● Muscle/tendon contracture leading to stiff joints and Joint arthritis, 
 

● Deep vein thrombosis,
 

● Fat embolism. 
 

● Pain, bleeding that can result in Haematoma or compartment syndrome and may occur deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and nerve injury as a result of stretching. 
 

● Pin site infection is another rare but common complication of Limb Lengthening Surgery 
 

● Intolerable pain post leg lengthening surgery is too much to cope up with. 
 

● Bedridden for 3 months creates an emotional setback for the patients. 
 

In rare cases, 
 

● The bone might fail to heal completely and bone graft surgery might be required.
 

● A nerve may become too stretched, which occasionally requires surgery to decompress the nerve. 
 

● Tight muscles and tendons might require tendon-lengthening surgery. 
 

● Lengthening that occurs too slowly or failure can lead to premature bone healing. Your surgeon may need to re-cut the bone to allow the lengthening process to continue.

Recovering from limb lengthening changes due to the type of surgery. It's important to know that in any case besides the methods chosen there will be a lengthy period of recovery, called the “consolidation phase”.
 

Also age factor is an important criterion that shapes the recovery time. While children are required to wear a leg lengthening device for around three months, adults need to wear one for about six months.  

Limb lengthening recovery time comes with steps.  

The first step is "Distraction Phase". Lengthening usually begins a few days or a week after surgery. Physical therapy is required on an outpatient basis in all cases during the distraction phase. 

During the distraction phase, patients need to be examined and x-rays obtained every 2 to 3 weeks. This will help to prevent complications from occurring, to see how the evaluation of the bone growth is going, how the nerve and muscle function works.  

The total average of external fixation treatment time for children is 1 month per centimeter and for adults can be as long as 2 months per centimeter. 

The external fixator can be removed when the bone is supported from the inside by the rod. Therefore, the external fixator is in place only for the distraction phase.

The second step is the "Consolidation Phase". It starts after the desired lengthening or deformity correction has been achieved. In this phase all adjustments to the lengthening device cease. The consolidation occurs with the rod alone. 

X-rays must be obtained approximately once per month to evaluate bone healing during Limb lengthening recovery time.

The third step is called "dynamization". As long as the bone looks sufficiently healed and will not collapse, your surgeon will remove the external fixator rods. This will help to reduce the tension on the bone. Usually the external fixator is removed one month after dynamization. 

The last step of Limb lengthening recovery is: Removal of the External Fixator 

This phase will be done mostly under anesthesia, rarely patient awake. After removal, many patients require a cast for a month of additional protection. 

Whole of the procedure is completed in 1-1,5 year time.

To walk after leg lengthening surgery takes a time. While some people can walk without any support after the first week, mostly, they can walk by walker for the first 2-3 months.

How long will it take to walk after leg lengthening surgery can change from person to person. To shorten the time it's important to pay attention to your physiotherapy after the surgery.

Leg-lengthening surgery is provided with minimally invasive surgery which causes a lot less scarring after recovery. So as a short answer we can say that; Yes! leg lengthening surgery leaves scars.

Limb lengthening surgery in Turkey is a common procedure that is performed for the treatment of dwarfism and the post traumatic femoral shortening.
 

There are different methods used in limb lengthening surgery. In limb lengthening surgery Turkey; LON, Holyfix, Ilizarov, STRYDE and PRECICE 2 methods are used to lengthen the bones in the arms or legs.

The most advantageous part of having your Limb Lengthening surgery in Turkey is; in some cases Turkey can provide treatment only using an intramedullary rod without any external apparatus.

Limb Lengthening surgery costs in Turkey, includes a hospital stay of about 5-6 days, clinical and radiographic checks at a rate of about 30 days. You will be given an all inclusive package price list before you arrive for the surgery.

With the number of health care institutions accredited for quality of patient care and organization management İstanbul is the capital city of Europe in health tourism.
 

The Advantages of Limb Lengthening in İstanbul can be summarized as;
 

● İstanbul has an affordable healthcare system and has the highest number of US-accredited hospitals, 
 

● You can find experienced Limb Lengthening surgeons in İstanbul who have trained in Europe and America and choose to practice in Turkey, 
 

● Istanbul Airport, in Turkey, is also considered as one of the world’s largest airports with around 200 million passengers each year and has around 300 direct flights worldwide. 
 

● Limb Lengthening surgery in İstanbul is also 70 per cent cheaper than most of Europe. So you can achieve more affordable treatment without sacrificing the quality of service. 
 

● You can get a Limb Lengthening procedure scheduled in as early as two weeks compared to waiting for almost 18 months for some procedures in the other countries.