Leg lengthening and shortening

Epiphysiodesis; Epiphyseal arrest; Correction of unequal bone length; Bone lengthening; Bone shortening; Femoral lengthening; Femoral shortening

Leg lengthening and shortening are types of surgery to treat some people who have legs of unequal lengths.

These procedures may:

  • Lengthen an abnormally short leg
  • Shorten an abnormally long leg
  • Limit growth of a normal leg to allow a short leg to grow to a matching length
Leg lengthening - series

The most common bones treated with lengthening procedures are the bones of the leg, the tibia and the femur. Surgical treatment may be recommended for severe unequal leg lengths caused by; Poliomyelitis and cerebral palsy; Small, weak (atrophied) muscles or short, tight (spastic) muscles may cause deformities and prevent normal leg growth; Hip diseases such as Legg-Perthes disease; Previous injuries or bone fractures that may stimulate excessive bone growth; Abnormal spinal curvatures (scoliosis); Birth defects (congenital deformities) of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments.

Description

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Risks

After the Procedure

Outlook (Prognosis)