Short legs and short stature are no longer a problem because there are now effective and safe methods for leg lengthening available. Doctors in Germany use special devices that can increase the length of bones by several centimeters in only a matter of months. Surgical interventions are performed for both medical and aesthetic indications.
Content
- Who needs leg lengthening?
- How to increase the length of the legs
- What is the process of treatment?
The healthcare professionals in Germany use Fitbone nails for leg lengthening, which make the treatment safe and comfortable for the patient.
You can undergo treatment in one of the following hospitals: University Hospital Heidelberg, University Hospital Rechts der Isar Munich, University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian or University Hospital of Munich.
If you want to have the treatment of short legs (limbs) in Germany, please contact Booking Health. The company's specialists will give you advice on choosing an orthopedic clinic and a doctor, recommend the best treatment method for you and make an appointment, help you to get a visa, arrange flights and accommodation and provide a personal interpreter. During treatment, you can contact your medical coordinator with any questions.
Who needs leg lengthening?
Leg lengthening surgery can be performed in the following cases:
- Diseases in which a person is born with short legs, such as achondroplasia;
- Congenital anomalies in which one leg is significantly shorter than the other;
- Acquired diseases in which, as a result of injury or surgery, one limb becomes shorter than the other.
Thus, doctors perform surgical interventions to equalize the length of the limbs or to increase the length of both legs.
The treatment of short legs (limbs) in Germany is more often carried out for aesthetic purposes but not for medical reasons. Subjectively short legs become the basis for the operation. Treatment can be provided at the patient's request. It does not matter how tall he is or how long his limbs are. Even people who are over 180cm tall sometimes resort to the help of orthopedists to become even taller.
How to increase the length of the legs
The principle of leg lengthening was developed in the middle of the 20th century. Doctors cut the bones and then gradually pull them apart. This method of treatment is called osteosynthesis. The gradual separation of the ends of the tubular bones leads to the formation of bone tissue between them.
An outdated treatment method involves the use of the Ilizarov apparatus. This is still used in countries with poorly developed medicine. The problem with this method is that it is bulky, limits a person's mobility for several months and the risk of complications when using the Ilizarov apparatus reaches 50%.
The healthcare professionals in Germany apply more effective and safer methods, which means the risk of complications does not exceed 10%. Modern devices for the gradual separation of bones are equipped with electric motors, remotely controlled, have compact dimensions and are hidden under trousers. They provide a high quality of life and the preservation of working ability during the treatment period, which is very important because the time to achieve the final result takes an average of six months.
During the course of treatment, doctors perform an operation to cut the bones. They then implant a device that will gradually pull their ends apart. A lot of such devices have been developed. The most perfect, convenient and safe, are the German Fitbone system and the American Precise device. The clinics in Germany often use FITBONE® SAA. This device provides not only a low risk of complications but also a comfortable use.
What is the process of treatment?
Treatment begins with an operation to implant the device. Both the femur and the tibia can be lengthened. The surgical intervention is usually performed on the tibia. An additional increase in the length of the femur can be used to achieve more pronounced results.
A person spends several days in the hospital after the operation. This is followed by several months of limb lengthening. How long this will take depends on what outcomes are planned. Everyday, the person pulls the ends of the bones apart on his own by about a third of a millimeter, this sets in motion an electric motor. The procedure is repeated three times a day. Accordingly, one can "grow" by about 1mm per day. In a month, the person can add 3cm to their height. This stage can last almost 3 months, since the maximum possible result with Fitbone is 8cm added to the length of the bones. This result can be twice as high if not only the tibia but also the femur is treated at the same time.
Once the person reaches their final length, they will need rehabilitation. It will take about 3 more months before the bones become strong enough to stop the rehabilitation: during this time, the newly formed bones are mineralized.
There are a few reasons for you to undergo treatment in Germany:
- The use of the state-of-the-art Fitbone device;
- No holes left in the skin after surgery;
- Nerves, blood vessels and soft tissues are not damaged;
- A 5 times lower risk of any complications;
- No need to use the screws to pull the bones apart – an electric motor is applied;
- No need to stay in the hospital for months;
- No massive mobility-restricting devices on the legs;
- Minimally traumatic removal of the nails through a 0.5 cm incision.
To undergo diagnostics and treatment of short legs in Germany, you are encouraged to contact Booking Health. On the company's website you can find out what is the price for surgery in different clinics and also make an appointment for the treatment, at the best price. The prices will be lower for you due to the lack of overpricing for foreigners. You will receive insurance that will protect against any unexpected medical expenses, up to 200,000 EUR. This means that the indicated cost of the program will not increase for you, even if additional procedures are required. The specialists of the Booking Health company will help you to select the most suitable clinic and organize your trip.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Medscape
