Any Orthopaedic experts in?

[john2443]

We have 2 acquaintances, both lads in their mid 20s in the UK who have very significant limps - 1 leg needs a couple of inches adding on.

I'm surprised that with modern surgery they haven't had operations to 'stretch' one leg to solve the problem, perhaps without knowing the history it's difficult to answer this but does anyone have an idea why they wouldn't have been given an op?

[mph1977]

my top two answers in this case would be

1. they've never asked for a referral

2. they've been referred been told how long it takes to do a proper limb lengthening (months to years depending on the deficit / amount you want to lengthen) and the fact you''ll have an ex -fix / iliazrov frame on for the entire duration ( no footy, no swimming , etc)and decided it's not worth the hassle. It would also limit what work you could do while you had the fixator on

also. iirc it's a rather harder and more drawn out process in adults than in children / teens

[rog007]

Medicine can have a go at tackling most things but not everything is possible either ethically, legally, physically or without incurring other risks, possibly greater than the original condition. As ever, seeking a specialist opinion is the best course of action; this can be initiated via a GP. If all of that has been done, then it's probably safe to say that it's either not possible in those cases or the associated risks with the procedure are greater than the existing condition.

[MajorProblem]

That op can be done in no time, very common procedure.

[GrumpyTwig]

They should be good at stadium running at least, advantage in the corners and all that.

[Anthony Micallef]

john2443 said:

We have 2 acquaintances, both lads in their mid 20s in the UK who have very significant limps - 1 leg needs a couple of inches adding on.

I'm surprised that with modern surgery they haven't had operations to 'stretch' one leg to solve the problem, perhaps without knowing the history it's difficult to answer this but does anyone have an idea why they wouldn't have been given an op?

Im 40 and was born with one leg shorter than the other (left leg) and had an op to lenghten in when I was 12/13. The whole procedure lasted about 10 months and was certainly worth it for me.

[The_Doc]

MajorProblem said:

That op can be done in no time, very common procedure.

Short op, long recovery, uncommon surgery.

You'd be hard beat to improve on this page from the American Acadamy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00259

Will.
Cons. Orthopaedic Surgeon

[MajorProblem]

The_Doc said:

MajorProblem said:

That op can be done in no time, very common procedure.

Short op, long recovery, uncommon surgery.

You'd be hard beat to improve on this page from the American Acadamy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00259

Will.
Cons. Orthopaedic Surgeon

Ok, I stand corrected.

Can't believe I waited three days for that.