Limb Lengthening

1. What is limb lengthening?

It means lengthening of the limb through surgical procedure to gain height by distraction osteogenesis method by the help of external ilizarov apparatus. other condition like by birth limb length discrepancies, congenital short statures, fracture, polio,crush injury, non- union, arthodesis also got corrected and treated by this method

2.Short history about limb lengthening. How it developed.

The Process of distraction osteogensis has been known since the mid 19th century, bt it's practical use was more recently discovered by the Azeri-Siberian Dr. Gavriil Ilizarov (1921-1992). He established a limb lenghtening surgery using the circular fixator, in which the leg or the arm is performed by thin wires and surrounded by metal rings, which are connected to each other by spindles, joints, and bars. The treatment began with the cutting of the bone that would be lengthened with a bone chisel from the outside. Then the circular fixator was attached to both bone ends via heavy-gauge wires called either "pins" or kirschner wires, which perforated the skin and muscles. The rings were connected to each other with threaded rods attached through adjustable nuts. With the help of the nuts, the rings are pulled apart, so the gap in the bone expands. While a distraction rate of 1 mm per day is maintained, the new bone tissue is built.

3.The process of limb lengthening is devided in to two phase.

1. Distraction phase - During the limb lenghtening surgery, the bone that will be lengthened is surgically divided into two segments. After the arm or leg lengthening surgery has been performed, the segements are slowly and continuously pulled apart along the longitudinal axis. In the resulting gap between the two segments, new bone made from the body's own bone tissue is formed.
2. Consolidation and recovery phase - Once the desired correction or length is obtained, the healing in the bone's gap begins. During distraction osteogenesis,not only the bone,but the surrounding soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, and nerves) is stretched and, therefore, continuously lengthened to the same degree. Limb-lengthening can be carried out in the thigh (femur), lower leg(tibia) and the upper arm (humerous), either with external or intramedullary systems.

4.Procedure and how much time will take on entire process.

The height increase surgery from day one. I.e. surgery, distraction, and recovery takes almost 4-6 months.depending on the body and it's healing capacity. After patient discharge from hospital shifted to guest house for his further physiotherapy rehabilitation. Where every weekend surgeon also can visit for his follow-up. So This is what the most important part of his journey.