Early Diagnosis in Limb Lengthening Treatment

Limb Lengthening Surgeon

Hormone therapy is one of the newest treatment methods for dwarfism requiring limb lengthening surgery. Today, growth hormone supplementation is considered appropriate for those experiencing dwarfism. Due to growth deficiency, a synthetic version of this hormone is administered to the person via injections, thereby increasing the person's height. In most cases, daily injection doses may be administered for several years until children reach their maximum adult size. They may continue treatment in their youth and early adulthood to achieve adult maturity in terms of muscle or fat. Some individuals may require lifelong treatment. If the treatment is insufficient, it is supported by different and related hormones.

Limb Lengthening in Dwarfism

Dwarf individuals opt for surgery called limb lengthening for treatment. Dwarfism cannot generally be resolved, and the height of dwarf individuals cannot be increased. On the other hand, with the treatments applied in our clinic, deformities can be corrected, and a person's height can be extended to the lower limit of normal height in society. The lengthening and correction of the arms are performed in a separate session. The first 1-2 years after the age of 5 are very important in dwarf children, as bone healing potential is very good during this period, and maximum lengthening can be achieved during this time. This treatment is performed with a fixator. In the first session, the femur and both tibias are lengthened. A length of 20-25 cm is achieved with these two sessions. The second session of lengthening procedures is performed between the ages of 10 and 11. At this stage, magnetic lengthening rods are used, and the femur (thigh bone) is lengthened up to 14 cm, and both tibias are lengthened by 5-7 cm. The child should wait until they reach the age of 5 for the first lengthening surgery. This procedure is applied all over the world, for example, in countries like America, Germany, England, or France, but the cost can exceed budgets. Again, in low-cost countries like India, surgery is dangerous for health. In Turkey, while the cost is affordable, patients can access the best specialist doctors.