Lengthening of the lower leg with the Ilizarov apparatus how long the pictures last. Surgical lengthening of the legs - the methods of Ilizarov and Bliskunov. Advantages and disadvantages of surgical staplers - indications and contraindications for use
Content
1952 is the date of the development of the device, which received the name from the creator - G.A. Ilizarov, who made a revolution in medicine and started a new era in traumatology and orthopedics. The design is actively used in the treatment of fractures and their complications. The device allows you to compress and decompress the bones, preventing disability and restoring health.
Ilizarov apparatus - what is it
A simple design - a compression-distraction apparatus - is made of metal. The system is based on rods (spokes) made of titanium or carbon fiber that pass through bone fragments at an angle of 90 degrees. Metal rods are attached to the rings by movable transition elements, which can be used to change the length of the device. As a result, the doctor gets the opportunity to squeeze or stretch parts of the bone as the treatment requires.
Ilizarov apparatus - application
When squeezing, rigid compression occurs, and when stretched, distraction occurs. Therefore, the apparatus is called compression-distraction, and the therapy process is called compression-distraction osteosynthesis. Medicine has constantly improved the device and the use of the Ilizarov apparatus has become widespread to solve many problems - such as:
- fractures of varying complexity;
- rickets;
- false joints;
- pseudoarthrosis;
- systemic diseases of the skeleton;
- varus deformities knee joint;
- insufficient growth;
- the need to correct the proportions of the body, the curvature of the legs and solve other problems of aesthetic medicine.
Apparatus for splicing bones
One of the purposes of the modern design of the Ilizarov method is to fix bone fragments in fractures. A bone fusion apparatus is used for open and multi-comminuted fractures. The risk of debris displacement causes the possibility of loss of bone contact, improper union. The device regulates the distance between the tissues, increases the speed of fusion. The main plus is that the fracture is securely fixed so that the bones grow together in a normal way. Even if the device is applied to the shins, the patient can walk without waiting for a full recovery.
Leg lengthening with the Ilizarov apparatus
The length of the legs is determined by the bones: in order to change it, it is necessary to violate the integrity of the limbs. To do this, the bones in the thigh or lower leg are broken, and then a needle is inserted into the fracture site. Adjusting the distance with special nuts increases the distance by lengthening the bone. The average rate of distraction (stretching) is 1 mm per day. For a period of two months, an increase of 6 cm can be carried out. After the distraction period, a fixation period follows, the usual duration of which is 2 times longer than the leg lengthening time.
The use of compression-distraction devices in orthopedics is justified by medical and aesthetic indications. The process of distraction is a long one. From 6 to 12 months, the patient will need to use devices to increase the length of the legs and allow the young tissues to strengthen. Distraction causes pain, requires constant medical control and long rehabilitation. Doctors recommend that you carefully familiarize yourself with the technique, study photos and videos on fixing and wearing a compression-distraction device before deciding to have an operation.
Installation of the Ilizarov apparatus
Although the small design looks simple, the installation process requires general or regional anesthesia to temporarily block conduction. nerve plexus staging site. Above the fracture, two needles are placed perpendicular to each other. For this, a drill is used. After the spokes are fixed on the rings (half rings), in which the rods are installed to adjust the distance. The number of rings can be any, depending on the nature of the fracture.
The operation to install the Ilizarov apparatus for limb lengthening is carried out in several stages. After the construction is applied, the patient is dissected the bone and the fragments are fixed with the apparatus. A week after this procedure, you can start the distraction process. Regardless of the reason for using the design, the tension of the spokes requires daily adjustment, and the patient's condition is tightly controlled.
The compression-distraction device requires special care, as it passes through the bone and can cause infection, provoke purulent inflammation. Knitting needles need to be disinfected in time using special solutions or 50% alcohol with water, which must be distilled. For processing, moisten a napkin in liquid and wipe all open areas of the knitting needle. One napkin is recommended to be used no more than two days, then it will have to be replaced.
Treatment with the Ilizarov apparatus
The main advantage of the technique is the preservation of the functionality of adjacent joints and muscles to a certain extent. Due to this feature, the treatment of fractures with the Ilizarov apparatus accelerates the regeneration of bone tissue for the rapid healing of any type of bone fracture:
- diaphyseal;
- intraarticular;
- open;
- gunshot;
- complicated by purulent infection.
A compression-distraction apparatus is used to compress or stretch lower extremities. The Ilizarov apparatus on the leg helps to avoid the divergence of the edges of the bone after fractures, fixing them in a certain position. In orthopedics, this technique is used to eliminate bone defects, for example, to correct the shortening of one of the limbs. In aesthetic medicine, the apparatus is used, if necessary, to lengthen the legs.
Ilizarov apparatus on the arm
When a complex form of fracture occurs on the upper limb, the Ilizarov apparatus on the arm is used for fusion. This medical technique is used when it is necessary to correct the length and shape of the limb with a developmental defect. The device is installed on the forearm in case of fractures, in which the radius and ulna bones have significantly shifted.
Corrective hip surgeries can be performed in different ways:
- using plates;
- according to the Ilizarov method;
- using intramedullary pins.
The Ilizarov apparatus on the thigh is sometimes used, but wearing it can create further problems:
- contractures and subluxations of the knee joint;
- obvious imbalances;
- rough scars.
Ilizarov apparatus on the lower leg
In some cases of complex fractures in the shin area, it is impossible to heal bone fragments if conventional immobilization is created with plaster bandages. The Ilizarov apparatus on the lower leg is often used in the treatment of patients after car accidents and other situations in which injuries were received from a strong blow or a fall from a height. Multiple fragments, characteristic of injuries of this kind, are not capable of independent reposition in a cast. When using the Ilizarov method, the healing process is accelerated, the rehabilitation period is shortened.
How long is the Ilizarov apparatus worn?
The complexity of the correction that the bone undergoes determines how long the Ilizarov apparatus is worn. In most cases, compression or distraction is required for at least two months. For complex fractures, for example, on the lower leg, it may take from 4 to 10 months. When surgery is performed to lengthen the limbs or correct curvature, the spokes are worn for 6 months. The individual rate of bone tissue regeneration also affects the period after which it will be possible to remove the device.
How to walk with the Ilizarov apparatus
The period of use of the device is long, but the patient should not give up the whole habitual life. Walking with the Ilizarov apparatus is allowed and even necessary. The device can be hidden under wide clothing, which is easy to remove and put on. If it is necessary to fix the device on the leg, you can wear wide trousers that will hide installed system and make it invisible in life and even in the photo.
When treating according to the Ilizarov method, a moderate load should be given to the bone after 1-2 weeks. However, the patient may develop inflammatory processes v soft tissues. If complications arise in the form of increasing pain, swelling, redness at the places where the device is applied, compresses from a solution of dimexide and distilled water are used. Antibiotics, such as doxycycline hydrochloride tablets, may also be prescribed. If complications persist after a few days, medical attention should be sought.
A special cover can reduce the likelihood of complications due to dust settling on the knitting needles. To sew it, use a breathable fabric. The cover is a cylinder with rubber bands that covers the limb from above and below. Such a cover is an excellent solution for compression or distraction correction, which uses the Ilizarov method.
The price of the Ilizarov apparatus
Compression-distraction devices are different, so it will be difficult to say exactly how much the Ilizarov apparatus (region - Moscow) costs. The traumatologist will determine the required configuration and complexity of the device, on which the final cost of the product will depend. The price is affected by the place for the treatment of which the kit is intended, the material of manufacture, equipment, and other features. Average cost:
- only a set - 20-40 thousand rubles, can reach up to 600 thousand (depending on complexity);
- operations (the price of the device is included in the price) - about 150 thousand rubles. (for both legs - 200 thousand);
- doctor's consultations - 3-7 thousand rubles;
- removal of structures - 3-5 thousand rubles;
- topograms (x-rays in full height) - 5 thousand rubles.
How to remove the Ilizarov apparatus
If the device is applied to the limb under anesthesia, then the removal of the Ilizarov apparatus is often carried out even without anesthesia. Spot wounds remain in places where the needles were inserted. They are dressed with dimexide or another disinfectant. If the bone tissue is not strong enough, then doctors can impose a fixing splint. Rehabilitation measures after withdrawal include:
- massage;
- physiotherapy;
- gymnastics to restore mobility.
Timely started gymnastics and massage sessions will help restore blood flow, nutrition and limb mobility. The duration of rehabilitation is determined by the doctor. Wounds after removing the spokes are treated with disinfectants until they are completely healed. The doctor may prescribe ointments and creams against the resulting edema.
The problem of height and length of legs today worries not only men: women today want to be no lower than 170-175 cm (and no wider than “90x60x90”). They are ready to sacrifice their health and even life for the missing or, conversely, a few extra centimeters.
The operation to lengthen the legs is very complex and lengthy - girls should definitely know about it.Meanwhile, just recently, the National Geographic channel showed the fourth episode of the second season of the documentary series “Prohibitions (taboos) “Make Me Prettier” about the horrors of plastic and orthopedic surgeries. Many shots are shocking: it shows in detail, for example, how the leg lengthening operation takes place, and what happens after it.
If the girls knew about the technique of the operation itself, about all side effects and complications after it, about how long this whole painful process lasts, then there would be much fewer people who wanted to lengthen their legs.
In orthopedics, operations on the extremities are extremely important and are performed in such cases:
- With complex open fractures of the tibia.
- To correct severe V-shaped or C-shaped curvature of the limbs.
- Elimination of the defect of the difference in the length of the legs.
- When prosthetic joints.
In any of these cases, there are medical indications for surgery:
- motor dysfunction,
- severe pain,
- severe lameness,
- influence on the biomechanics of the spine, etc.
What is cosmetic orthopedics
For cosmetic purposes, orthopedics began to be used at the end of the previous century.
Cosmetic orthopedics is a modern subsection of surgery that performs operations on the ODS at the request of the patient to change their anthropometric parameters.
There are no medical indications for these operations.
Types of modern orthopedic cosmetic surgeries:
- Lengthening of the thigh or lower leg.
- Correction of the curvature of the legs.
- Changing the size and shape of the foot.
- Removal of lower ribs.
The desire of the client to change his appearance is purely subjective:
- The curvature of the legs may be minimal (visible only to their owner).
- "Favorite" shoe size 39 - 40 for women today is not uncommon, and in principle there is nothing terrible about it: the shoe industry has long been sharpened to fit the feet of modern Cinderella.
- A “model” height of 180 cm and a “Japanese” leg of size 35 look strange, and the supporting function of the leg clearly suffers with such a disproportion.
There is also nothing wrong with a waist of 72 cm, since, we repeat, it is not the sizes that are important, but the proportions, besides, a sharp decrease in the volume of the waist threatens health:
- removal of the ribs seriously injures and weakens the spine;
- secondly, in women with an artificial wasp waist of 45 cm, both the intestines and the reproductive organs suffer.
The video below will tell you about the first orthopedic surgery to increase height by lengthening the legs:
Video: Increase in height with surgery
Operational technique for leg lengthening
Limb lengthening operations are performed by two methods:
Intraosseous:
- With this method, a strong rod implant with the possibility of elongation is inserted into the bone canal, which is fixed to the bones from the inside.
- Due to the high cost of the rods (one - 20 thousand euros), the cost of the operation can reach 70 thousand euros.
- It is used more often abroad, we are better known as the Bliskunov method.
Transosseous:
- This is a method of external fixation of the leg with the help of pins passing directly through the bones and metal rings connected by sliding rods for distraction (gradual lengthening).
- The method is cheaper and safer, however, the amount can still reach 10,000 euros or more (depending on how many cm the extension is).
- It is carried out mainly on the Ilizarov compression-distraction apparatus - a very convenient, simple domestic orthopedic device, vital in traumatology, but not in cosmetology.
Osteosynthesis and osteotomy
All lengthening operations are based on osteosynthesis - the properties of bone cells to divide.
Attention: Osteotomy precedes osteosynthesis - the intersection (fracture) of the bone, that is, before increasing your legs by a couple of centimeters, they are pre-drilled with a drill, and then, roughly speaking, they simply break.
Impressive, of course, it is better not to see this.
The operation is performed by the method of osteotomy - a fracture of the leg- scarring, adhesions, incomplete union;
- muscle contractures;
- postoperative pain;
- long non-healing wounds on the skin, etc.
To find out what people usually experience during this time, talk to those who have a bad experience of trauma.
Healing with limb lengthening is aggravated by the need for daily distraction, therefore, it takes much longer than with a conventional fracture.
Operation on the Ilizarov apparatus
In order to lengthen the leg by at least 2 cm, it may take about two months of distraction (in the absence of complications)- The operation takes place under general or epidural anesthesia.
- On the third day after the operation, the patient becomes on crutches.
- Distraction (lengthening) begins after a week.
A few words about the leg lengthening itself on the Ilizarov apparatus:
- You can lengthen either the lower leg (maximum by 7 cm) or the thigh (up to 9 - 10 cm).
- More often on the Ilizarov apparatus, lengthening of the lower leg is practiced (lengthening of the femur is recommended to be carried out using the Bliskunov method).
- Limb lengthening is performed by 0.075 - 0.1 cm per day, i.e. from 0.75 to 1 mm:
- per day, the nuts on the Ilizarov apparatus must be tightened four times.
- It may take up to two months of distraction to lengthen the leg by at least 2 cm.
- A 10 cm lengthening requires approximately 10 months of distraction.
How long does it take to lengthen by 10 cm
At the end of the distraction, the torment does not end:
- The removal of the Ilizarov apparatus is to be done (the procedure is also not pleasant).
- Next comes a long-term (up to 4 months) immobilization:
- the leg is placed in a cast or splint;
- long walk on crutches.
- After removing the plaster, the main stage of rehabilitation begins with complex exercises for more than one month.
Calculate how long it will take, in total with rehabilitation, to lengthen one leg, if you decide to grow from 165 to the cherished 175 cm - this is clearly more than a year!
- With the first, intraosseous method, the period of fixation of the elongated limb is shorter, but here one more operation is needed to extract the rod from the bone, and again with subsequent immobilization and development.
- Leg lengthening is best done in two stages, although on the other hand, a one-stage operation is preferable in achieving perfect symmetry and equal length of both limbs.
But if you break two legs at once:
- perhaps a great shock and pain shock for the patient;
- rehabilitation is much more difficult;
- even with simultaneous lengthening, the device is removed in stages:
- first with one foot, then with the other;
- the promised two-week period between rounds can drag on for a long time if something goes wrong.
As you can see, it will not be possible to grow easily, quickly and without pain: it can take up to two years or more to lengthen both legs by 10 cm with distraction, fixation and rehabilitation.
Such a long period is explained by the fact that the bones at the site of fusion are very vulnerable and can break or bend as a result of the load.
Finally, the device is completely removed from the legs!Who needs leg lengthening
In some other way, such an operation can be justified to correct obvious shortcomings:
- a large degree of curvature of the legs;
- lameness due to a large difference in the length of the limbs;
- dwarf growth (in women - less than 135 cm).
Who is contraindicated for surgery
- diabetes,
- osteoporosis,
- all types of arthritis or rheumatism,
- osteomyelitis,
- bone tuberculosis,
- serious illness CNS,
- deviations in the psyche.
Guaranteed Results
There is no guarantee that everything will turn out the way you planned:
That is, it may well not be possible to grow by the promised 10 cm due to poor tissue extensibility or premature closure of growth zones.
- Theoretically, growth zones are open until the age of 16, but this is a relative indicator: someone finishes growing earlier, and someone later.
- In adolescence, the operation will achieve the best effect, in a more mature age, the result can be much worse.
- The whole paradox and injustice is that the possibilities of lengthening are directly proportional to your height - this means:
- the higher the girl, the more cm she can lengthen her legs;
- and vice versa, a naturally small girl is unlikely to be able to easily grow 7-10 cm.
Bottom line: is it worth taking the risk and suffering for perhaps two unfortunate added centimeters?
Side effects and possible complications
- While the apparatus is on its feet, you will have to drink a lot of painkillers, and they strike at many organs, especially the stomach and intestines.
- The needles of the Ilizarov apparatus often burst when walking and have to be changed frequently, and this is also an operation with local anesthesia.
- Because of the needles, the skin on the legs is constantly injured, the seams and wounds on the skin of the legs cause a lot of inconvenience: pain, itching and irritation, plus they are aesthetically unsightly. (But this is all fixable, because sooner or later the device will be removed and everything will heal).
- If after the operation there are too rough scars and scars from the spokes, then the surgeon can correct them in the future with the help of light plastic surgery.
- To improve results (especially with closed growth zones), the operation is usually accompanied by the appointment of growth hormones, and this can lead to weight loss or some other trouble that hormones often bring, disrupting the natural hormonal balance.
- Wearing the device on the lower leg for a long time leads to incomplete flexion and extension of the leg and the formation of contractures.
- Correction of contractures is possible only through enhanced rehabilitation, otherwise lengthening may result in lameness, muscle atrophy, and asymmetry.
- Frequent complications after surgery on the Ilizarov apparatus are arthrosis of the foot, ankle and knee joints.
Psychological aspects
It is not in vain that mental abnormalities are mentioned in contraindications for leg lengthening surgery.
Today, surgeons, of course, strive to satisfy every whim for your money, correcting those appearance flaws that, according to patients, prevent them from living. But in fact, there is another problem, much more serious.
In the desire to achieve a perfect appearance at any cost, psychologists see disorders ... - Complexity, a terrible lack of confidence in one's appearance, a fanatical desire to change one's outer shell at any cost, receiving in return, perhaps, an injury - this is dysmorphophobia, mental illness(usually adolescence, but not always).
- In addition to complexes, women may have a manic goal to be like someone else:
on a Barbie doll, on your favorite actress or model, etc. - Another kind of such a disease: the desire to remake oneself under some single fashionable (in her concept) image. Usually these do not stop at one operation:
today the nose is being remade, tomorrow the lips are being remade, the day after tomorrow silicone is inserted into the chest, then the “extra” ribs are removed, and so on.
It is interesting that such metamorphoses can even disfigure a woman, but she, without noticing this, is completely delighted with her new appearance.
Such would not be a surgeon, but completely different doctors.
How can it be anyway?
- If you really want to grow up, then for this there is:
- Appropriate exercises for leg lengthening and slimness:
- If you are still growing, then it is quite possible to lengthen your legs by 7-10 cm during the year with the help of gymnastics.
- If your growth has stopped, then both the expensive hardware operation to lengthen the legs and the exercises can lead to the same results, with the difference that by choosing the second method, you will avoid long shocks and undesirable consequences.
- Visual methods for lengthening the legs with the help of skillfully selected toilet components:
- the use of different silhouettes of a clothing model, skillfully selected tone and color sometimes give a striking effect.
Leg lengthening surgery, even 20 years ago it could sound strange and intimidating. But today, when people are used to weaving other people's hair into their hair, radically changing their appearance with the help of injections, and even changing their gender, lengthening their legs seems quite normal. In addition, this is not always a whim of a person, and sometimes a medical necessity.
Indications for leg lengthening surgery
Any surgical intervention is prescribed according to indications: medical or aesthetic. In the case of lower limb lengthening, it can be both.
For some reason, some people are not satisfied with the length of their legs: usually these are either young men who have complexes about their height, or girls who want to make a career in the modeling business.
That is, the main aesthetic indication is still the desire to increase growth by lengthening the legs.
But there are medical indications for these types of surgeries. This:
- congenital or acquired defects in the bone tissue of the lower extremities that prevent normal (even) walking; obvious lameness;
- violation of the development of bone tissue (dysplasia);
- incorrectly fused after a bone fracture;
- different leg lengths (anisomelia).
In this case, the operation is not even recommendatory, but mandatory. Because problems with normal walking affect not only the quality of life due to constant lameness, but also other systems of the bone apparatus. In particular, the spine begins to suffer, because the load on it will be uneven. And this results in serious illnesses, up to complete immobility and disability.
Why legs can have different lengths
Some babies are born with different legs. This may be due to a failure in the development of the bone apparatus during the period of embryonic growth of the fetus. Lack of vitamins is the main cause of this pathology, so expectant mothers should carefully monitor their diet.
By the way! Toxicosis during pregnancy is not just a symptom, but also a hint for female body. And if future mother I want to gnaw on chalk, which means that she is acutely lacking in calcium. You should consult a doctor to restore the balance of this mineral and not overdo it.
Also, a child can be accidentally injured during childbirth due to an obstetrical error. If, for example, the leg is pulled hard, this can cause not only its shortening, but also dislocation or other deformation.
In a child, anisomelia is usually detected only at 10-12 months, when he begins to take his first steps. Then the parents or the pediatrician notice the baby is lame, or they see that the steps are difficult for him. Prior to this, the difference in the length of the legs may not be visually noticeable.
In an adult with identical legs, problems can begin after a fracture and improper splicing. Therefore, any injury should be shown to a specialist as soon as possible so that he can diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment: immobilization (gypsum), traction, or surgery.
Methods of surgical treatment of anisomelia
Back in the 90s, such a direction as orthopedic cosmetology was formed. It studied and implemented surgical techniques aimed at the treatment of complex limb injuries and correction with different leg lengths. The founder is considered G. A. Ilizarov, who was the first to propose an apparatus that allows stimulating the growth of bone fragments.
The design received the name of the inventor, and it is used to this day. Also today, another design is popular, bearing the name of A.I. Bliskunov, who also proposed a similar method of stretching the limbs.
Bliskunov apparatus
This is a leg-lengthening metal structure implanted into the bone. A handle is brought out, with the help of which it is possible to control the mechanism for stretching the limb. Due to the peculiarities of Bliskunov's design modification, it is used mainly to lengthen the femoral bone. The entire treatment process takes 6 to 12 months.
A more popular and commonly used limb extension method. Leg lengthening using the Ilizarov apparatus consists of osteotomy and the installation of metal structures. An osteotomy is an artificial fracture of a bone for the purpose of further correct fusion or, as in this case, lengthening of bone fragments.
It sounds creepy: a healthy and whole leg of the patient is broken in the shin or thigh, needles are inserted there and fixed with special screws. It occurs under the general or local anesthesia(the second is used only for strong-willed patients who are ready to realize what is happening behind the screen).
Rehabilitation after installation of the Ilizarov apparatus
The operation is over, the patient can already stand on his feet, leaning on crutches. But the designs will have to be worn for a very long time (about a year). After the installation of the Ilizarov apparatus, a long rehabilitation begins.
The first stage of rehabilitation is distraction. It occurs 7-10 days after the installation of the device. Distraction is the tightening of screws in order to lengthen the limb. In this way, the tension of the bone tissue is regulated, and the legs lengthen, on average, by 0.8-1 mm per day. Rates may vary due to the patient's low pain threshold or other anatomical features.
By the way! Sometimes patients learn to tighten the nuts and do it on their own, relying on their painful sensations.
When the legs have reached the desired length (this is determined not only at the request of the patient, but also according to the testimony of the doctor), the third, final stage of rehabilitation begins. For ossification of the elongated bone process, it takes from 6 to 12 months, which a person still spends in a metal structure similar to shackles. And, indeed, they create serious discomfort: it hurts to walk with them (limping still persists), they interfere with normal sitting and sleeping, and wounds can itch and become inflamed.
Life after leg lengthening surgery
After a certain period of time, the Ilizarov apparatus is removed. This happens without anesthesia, because the patient is so used to constant pain that he feels almost nothing but discomfort. After removing the structures, wounds remain on the legs, on which sterile dressings with healing ointments are applied.
After evaluating the condition of the bone tissue, the doctor determines whether the patient needs an additional fixing splint or plaster. But in any case, the first time you have to use crutches. In addition, a person simply cannot do without them, because some muscles partially atrophy during their stay in the Ilizarov structure.
Massage, physiotherapy and exercise therapy will help speed up recovery after removing the leg lengthening device. This will help improve blood flow, restore nutrition to the limbs and restore their mobility. Gradually, the lameness disappears, the person begins to walk smoothly and confidently. The wounds also heal quickly.
Leg lengthening is a long and difficult period, which is quite difficult to decide on. Sometimes the patient has no choice, and doctors see no other way to correct the deformity. But if a person consciously goes for it, pursuing aesthetic goals, he needs to be prepared for difficulties.
Leg lengthening with surgery is a surgical intervention that is performed using two methods. The first way is the most popular. For him, the Ilizarov apparatus is used. The second method is the Bliskunov method. Both methods have their contraindications. Leg lengthening surgery is prohibited if the patient has the following diseases:
- inflammation of the skin;
- diseases of the central nervous system;
- blood clotting disorders;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Surgical lengthening of the legs by the Bliskunov method is a very traumatic and painful process, so it is much less popular.
The use of the Ilizarov apparatus can increase the size of the lower legs or thighs. You need to choose one thing, since operations cannot be performed on two parts of the body at once. The choice depends on the characteristics of the patient's body. The surgeon will advise the best and safest option. The legs are enlarged by 6 cm, and the hips by 10 cm. It should be noted how much the leg lengthening operation costs - the price for it varies from the number of centimeters.
How is leg lengthening surgery performed?
The length of the legs depends on the bones, so in order to increase the size, it will be necessary to violate their integrity. During the operation, a surgical fracture is made. But the bone does not break completely, only its surface layer. Moreover, lengthening the legs with the help of the Ilizarov apparatus makes a fracture in a certain place. If the lower leg is lengthened, then two bones need to be broken. Sometimes the operation takes place in stages, the bones of both legs "break" in turn.
Knitting needles are placed in the place of the fracture. They begin a gradual slow lengthening of the legs with the help of surgery. Three days after surgery, the patient can begin to walk short distances - 5-20 meters daily. Leg lengthening occurs one week after the operation. To increase the size, you need to tighten the special nuts. This is done four times a day, and the patient himself is responsible for the process. Every day the length increases by 1 mm. You can achieve a result of 6 cm in about two months. During this period, the patient either remains in the hospital or goes home after a month. Leg lengthening surgery will first bring pain. If you go home after the operation, then you need to process the knitting needles disinfectants otherwise there is a risk of infection.
After reaching the desired size, the apparatus is removed from the legs. But this is not the end of leg lengthening. This is followed by a fixation period, which protects young tissues from deformation. At the end of this period (which lasts about 4 months), a calm lifestyle will be required. It is necessary to exclude roller-skating and skating trips, long walks, outdoor activities, dancing for several months.
The whole procedure takes 6-12 months.
The length by which the legs can increase depends not only on the method of surgical intervention. The extensibility of tissues plays an important role individual organism. It also depends on the height of the person. At tall people the length of the legs increases more. The leg lengthening operation is calculated according to the size of the body part, 10-15% of the original length is taken. Therefore, in tall people, legs can grow by 6-8 cm. Before the operation, you need to decide on your appearance, because the proportions of the body are different for everyone, too long legs for some people will look ugly.
The cost of leg lengthening surgery is 3-10 thousand dollars. It depends on prestige medical center and extended length.
Leg lengthening operation using the Ilizarov apparatus, video:
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Reviews (8)
I have been wanting to lengthen my legs for a long time, but it is unlikely that I will ever decide on this operation.
Endure such torment for a year and a half ... Girls and boys, you are crazy heroes)))
good afternoon, I would like to know how much does leg lengthening surgery cost?
How much will it cost to increase the legs of the femur by 14 cm?
I would like to clarify about "operations cannot be performed on two parts of the body." Is it for one period of time or in general?
How much does it cost to lengthen the lower leg by 5cm?
Hello, could you please tell me how much the operation to increase the legs by 5cm will cost? Thank you.
In Moscow, how much does it cost to lengthen the lower leg by 7 cm?
Modern people are striving for the ideal with all their might. appearance. Some are interested in the parameters and outlines of the body, others are interested in growth. Both women and men are willing to undergo invasive leg lengthening surgery in an attempt to increase their height, and in most cases, the increase in height occurs only a few centimeters. The patient will have to go to the results for a long time through pain and inconvenience (for example, wearing a special apparatus). How is it carried out, who is indicated and contraindicated, how much does such an intervention cost?
Indications and contraindications
According to experts, leg lengthening surgery is prescribed to correct a number of defects:
- Dwarfism (height up to 135 centimeters)
- Excessive leg curvature
- Lameness caused by a severe difference in the length of the lower limbs
- Mental disorders
- Diseases of the central nervous system
- Arthritis, rheumatism
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes
- Osteomyelitis
- Bone tuberculosis
Preparation period
Before starting all manipulations, the patient should consult with doctors (therapist, anesthesiologist, surgeon), pass a urine test (general), blood (general, biochemistry, coagulation), perform fluorography and radiography of the legs, ultrasonography joints.
15 days before the intervention, it is necessary to stop taking medications that thin the blood, drinking alcohol, smoking.
How is it carried out
Leg lengthening surgery is performed using one of two existing methods.
Intraosseous, or Bliskunova. A rod implant is inserted into the bone and fixes it from the inside. Very expensive and not very popular in Russia.
Transosseous, or Ilizarov. The leg is fixed with knitting needles and rings from the outside. They gradually move apart, which lengthens the legs. Requires wearing an unaesthetic outdoor apparatus, but it is inexpensive.
Surgery to increase height is a lengthy, complex, and sometimes dangerous process. For example, leg lengthening with the Ilizarov apparatus is quite painful and time-consuming.
About a month after the installation of a device for bone stretching, the patient is in stationary conditions. Approximately 5 days after the manipulation, you can begin to move up to 50 meters a day. During the entire lengthening period, the patient feels pain (an anesthetic is prescribed), and it can increase if the mode of motor activity or the rate of bone lengthening is disturbed.
The duration of distraction is from 5 to 7 months, after which the device can be removed. Then the fixation period begins (lasts from 4 months to six months, it is necessary for the prevention of deformities of the elongated lower extremities). At this time, the patient is at rest, sometimes special recovery exercises are carried out, since the lack of movement for a long time is fraught with muscle atrophy and serious joint problems.
Care after surgery
After lengthening the legs with the Ilizarov apparatus (or using the Bliskunov method), doctors recommend performing some actions to proper care behind the leg area.
In stationary conditions
According to experts, within the walls of the clinic it is necessary:
- Visiting physiotherapy procedures from 2 days after surgery
- Taking medication to prevent thrombosis
- Practice deep breathing and coughing to avoid accumulation of fluid in the lungs
- Walking short distances regularly (using a walker or crutches)
- Training for self-adjustment of clamps
- Mastering the rules for caring for pins, zones of their external fixation
At home
At home after surgery, for proper bone distraction, you must:
- Use of walkers, crutches (it is important to protect the lower limbs from unnecessary loads until medical permission)
- Regular adjustment of the device according to the instructions (if it needs to be adjusted)
- Compliance proper nutrition, if necessary - taking calcium supplements
- Maintaining hygiene of the external attachments of the device to prevent infection (especially around the attachments and pins)
- Keeping wounds (cuts) clean and dry until the doctor allows water procedures
- Perform exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscle structures of the legs
- Taking painkillers prescribed by a doctor
- Regular medical consultations and radiography to control bone growth (1 time in 15-20 days)
IMPORTANT: Dancing, active jumping, skating are allowed after about 1 year, but not earlier.
Primary results are evaluated after the completion of distraction, and the final results - 4 months after the rehabilitation period. Postoperative scars disappear in about six months.
Possible Complications
- Slow bone regeneration, usually due to smoking
- tissue inflammation
- Impaired mobility of the knee or ankle
Price
The price of the operation is determined by the bone segment that needs to be enlarged, as well as the enlargement parameters. The price usually includes from 30 to 50 days of stay in the hospital, outpatient medical supervision (depending on the method of correction and institution). On average, an increase in the lower leg is estimated at 3-8 thousand dollars, an increase in the hip - 4-10 thousand dollars.
Additional Information
An operation to increase height can be carried out in combination with the correction of calf deformities (if it is necessary to eliminate varus or valgus deformity).
Lengthening of one of the lower limbs can be performed (for example, after a congenital or acquired due to injury difference in leg length of more than 1.5 centimeters).
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