Medical Encyclopedia
Leg lengthening - series: Indications
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
Update Date: 12/4/2006
Updated by: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2009, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
