Leg Lengthening by Dr. Vijay Bose

"In a patient who does not have limb length discrepancy, one resects to the thickness of the component (femoral head) that we are going to use.  For example if the thickness is x mms then we resect x mms of bone from the top of the head. The absolute value varies for different sizes. However when one wants to lengthen then we under resect. If for a particular size the component thickness is say 8 mms and we resect only 3 millimeter.  Therefore when one puts the component on, we would have gained 5 mms by using the patients bone itself.
 
There are few other techniques which can contribute 2-3 millimeters. Thus by totaling them one can achieve significant length when desired.

By Dr. Vijay Bose