Limb Lengthening Short Breakdown

[willcha]

My first educational post, will be covering the basis on both femur and tibia lengthening, touching on clavicle lengthening and humerus lengthening (upper arm).
Femurs (thigh bones)

• Typical safe range is 5 to 8 cm.
• Heal faster than tibias due to better blood supply and more muscle coverage.
• Quadriceps strength drops significantly during recovery.
• Hip flexors get very tight.
• Changes knee position relative to the rest of the leg.
• Walking pattern must be relearned.
• PRECICE 2 (and other models) typically inserted 1/4 through the top of the femoral shaft.

Tibias (shin bones)

• Typical safe range is up to 5 cm.
• Slower healing than femurs because of less soft tissue and worse blood flow.
• Higher risk of non union compared to femurs.
• Lengthening puts more stress on the ankles than the knees.
• Achilles tendon tightens. Physical therapy is required to avoid a toe walk.
• Nerve issues are more common than with femurs.
• Some people choose tibias to keep their thigh to shin ratio looking normal.
• Will look out of proportion without quadrilateral lengthening.

Humerus lengthening (upper arms)

• Typical range is 4 to 6 cm.
• Done mostly by people who already lengthened their legs and ended up with arms that look too short.
• Recovery is less painful than legs because you do not walk on your arms.
• Shoulder mobility decreases during treatment.
• Triceps get weak.
• External frames on the arms make daily tasks like dressing and typing difficult.
• Most cosmetic lengthening patients skip this.
• May be regrettable if patient has a short-end torso.

Clavicle lengthening (collarbones)

• Adds shoulder width, not height.
• Typical gain is 3 to 4 cm per side.
• Scars are visible because the clavicles sit just under the skin.
• Nerve damage is a real risk. The brachial plexus runs close by.
• Some people get permanent numbness or weakness in the arms.
• Over lengthening can cause shoulder impingement and joint problems.
• Most limb lengthening surgeons do not offer this. You need a specialist (No Dr Paley this time).
• Required for sub 6in framecels
• Typically also uses PRECICE or other LL model inserts.

My first educational post, only thing I know about anyways. If mirin leave a rep. If considering LL, I'd say Dr Paley is the best shot, with >25000 procedures completed he's THE most educated and well equipped LL surgeon, though his prices are very $$$.

 

[willcha]

bump

 

[maracaton]

bumped 1 minute after posting haha

 

[AustrianMogger]

My first educational post, will be covering the basis on both femur and tibia lengthening, touching on clavicle lengthening and humerus lengthening (upper arm).
Femurs (thigh bones)

• Typical safe range is 5 to 8 cm.
• Heal faster than tibias due to better blood supply and more muscle coverage.
• Quadriceps strength drops significantly during recovery.
• Hip flexors get very tight.
• Changes knee position relative to the rest of the leg.
• Walking pattern must be relearned.
• PRECICE 2 (and other models) typically inserted 1/4 through the top of the femoral shaft.

View attachment 5197384

Tibias (shin bones)

• Typical safe range is up to 5 cm.
• Slower healing than femurs because of less soft tissue and worse blood flow.
• Higher risk of non union compared to femurs.
• Lengthening puts more stress on the ankles than the knees.
• Achilles tendon tightens. Physical therapy is required to avoid a toe walk.
• Nerve issues are more common than with femurs.
• Some people choose tibias to keep their thigh to shin ratio looking normal.
• Will look out of proportion without quadrilateral lengthening.

View attachment 5197389

Humerus lengthening (upper arms)

• Typical range is 4 to 6 cm.
• Done mostly by people who already lengthened their legs and ended up with arms that look too short.
• Recovery is less painful than legs because you do not walk on your arms.
• Shoulder mobility decreases during treatment.
• Triceps get weak.
• External frames on the arms make daily tasks like dressing and typing difficult.
• Most cosmetic lengthening patients skip this.
• May be regrettable if patient has a short-end torso.

View attachment 5197396

Clavicle lengthening (collarbones)

• Adds shoulder width, not height.
• Typical gain is 3 to 4 cm per side.
• Scars are visible because the clavicles sit just under the skin.
• Nerve damage is a real risk. The brachial plexus runs close by.
• Some people get permanent numbness or weakness in the arms.
• Over lengthening can cause shoulder impingement and joint problems.
• Most limb lengthening surgeons do not offer this. You need a specialist (No Dr Paley this time).
• Required for sub 6in framecels
• Typically also uses PRECICE or other LL model inserts.

View attachment 5197402
My first educational post, only thing I know about anyways. If mirin leave a rep. If considering LL, I'd say Dr Paley is the best shot, with >25000 procedures completed he's THE most educated and well equipped LL surgeon, though his prices are very $$$.

0 and untrue