How fast will the lengthening occur?
The duration of the lengthening procedure depends upon how much length the patient needs to achieve, how fast they produce bone, and how accurately they are able to carry out the lengthening activities. The average desired rate is 1 mm per day, although this may vary by individual circumstances. A 2.5 cm (approximately 1 inch) length discrepancy should be corrected in 3 - 4 weeks if the patient is able to average 1 mm per day of lengthening. The maximum length that can be achieved with a given procedure is 8 cm (or about 3 inches). At that point, the soft tissues become stretched tight and needs some time to adapt before additional length can be gained. If additional length is required, another procedure may be done after approximately one year.
What are the possible complications arising from this surgery?
As with any limb lengthening surgery, there is the possibility of premature consolidation, where the soft regenerate becomes hard and the bone stops lengthening. Other possible concerns are contracture, tight soft tissues causing pain, infection, and breakage of the device or the screws. With careful attention to the rehabilitation program and regular, frequent monitoring of the patient’s leg by the surgeon at two-week intervals, most of these problems can be avoided.
How does the device know when to stop lengthening?
The ISKD lengthener size that the surgeon will use for this procedure is determined by an extensive pre-surgical evaluation, including a special set of X-rays to determine how much length a patient needs. The surgeon's staff will measure the range of motion of the patient’s joints and evaluate body structure to determine that the implant length and the fully distracted length are appropriate.
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