Limb lengthening
Price in GBP
Price in EUR
- Internal fixation system (one leg) – from 10.850 £
- consultation with the surgeon
- necessary health tests
- surgery
- limb lengthening system
- anaesthesia
- hospitalisation
- 24/7 personal assistance during your stay
- transfers to / from the airport, hotel and clinic
- all documents translated to English
The clinic uses internal lengthening system.
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Nordorthopaedics Center Of Excellence
Our surgeon Arnoldas Sipavicius
- More than 10 years of working experience
- Fluent in English
- ATLS Certificate
- President of Kaunas Regional Scientific Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (KKOTMD)
- Read more
Rehabilitation package
The rehabilitation centre is located at a SPA resort town called Druskininkai. It is equipped with modern facilities. The professionals there have years of experience working with people after various surgeries and injuries.
Rehabilitation in Lithuania – from € 130 / £ 116 per day
- personalized rehabilitation course
- room with TV and private bathroom
- three meals a day
- all medication needed
- transportation to/from the rehabilitation centre
An individual rehabilitation program is prepared for each patient depending on the type of surgery, general patient‘s well-being, health status and other factors.
Our rehabilitation centre
Our clinic
What sets us apart from other clinics?
Our clinic works with highly professional and educated surgeons. They have 10-20 years of experience in the field of orthopaedic surgery. They each perform 500 surgeries per year. Moreover, our surgeons are members of various prestigious surgical societies both Lithuanian and international. Our joint replacement surgeon S. Tarasevicius is an author of 150 scientific publications in different medical journals. Find more information about our surgeons here.
Our clinic works according to the highest standards set by the European Union. This helps to guarantee the quality of medical service.
During your entire stay in Lithuania you will receive personal care as well as transport to and from the clinic, hotel, and airport. You will not have to worry about a thing. You will be assisted from the moment of plane landing in Vilnius or Kaunas airport till your departure.
We have no waiting line so we can schedule your surgery as soon as you are ready to do so.
Everyone in our clinic speaks English, including nurses, assistants and the surgeon.
2-3 hour regular flights operate from all main airports in the UK & Ireland. Lithuania is closer than you thought. You can find the list of direct flights here. Please note that airlines constantly add new flights and new destinations, therefore feel free to contact us if you need help choosing the flight that suits you best.
Lithuania has been a part of the EU and NATO since 2004. Lithuania has one of the fastest growing economies in the whole region and the second fastest internet speed in the world. Lithuanian medical schools have trained many medical professionals who are highly appreciated and employed by many foreign hospitals, among which hospitals in the UK. Our clinic works according to the highest standards set to the medical institutions by the European Union.
Direct flights to Lithuania
What is limb lengthening surgery?
Limb lengthening surgery makes it possible to increase one’s height from 5 to 15 cm. Such results are achieved through distraction osteogenesis, a technique that utilizes the body’s capacity to grow new bone and other supportive tissues. This modern surgical procedure aims to lengthen the limbs (usually the legs), improve the stature, and increase functionality. In addition, limb lengthening surgery is relevant for those seeking to correct congenital bone conditions, like limb length discrepancy.
What are bone lengthening methods?
There are two main techniques used in limb lengthening: one uses external fixators and the other one uses internal fixators.
External fixation involves attaching the bones to a special stabilizing structure, consisting of the apparatus and its control software, enabling various limb corrections to be made. It slowly pulls apart the bones, making them increase in length. This method is preferable while lengthening a shorter bone or performing more than one correction at a time. However, this fixation system looks aesthetically unappealing and has a higher risk of infection due to its external mechanism.
Alternatively, a surgeon can place limb-sparing mechanisms inside the bones (so called internal fixation). Inserting the stretching devices in the bone shaft allows more flexibility and comfort during recovery, while also minimizing the risk of infection. It is also worth mentioning that the recovery process is easier and less painful with the internal fixation method.
Pros and cons of bone lengthening methods
External fixation:
- A cheaper method;
- Recommended while performing more than one correction at a time;
- Better for lengthening a shorter bone;
- Higher risk of infection;
- Less comfortable and aesthetically pleasing because of external apparatus;
- Joint stiffness and muscle contracture is possible;
- A bigger chance of breaking a lengthened bone.
Internal fixation:
- More comfort;
- Quicker and easier rehabilitation;
- Lower risk of infection;
- Less scars and pain;
- Lower risk of damaging nerves or blood vessels.
How long does the treatment last and what are the results?
The length of the limb lengthening surgery is about 2 hours. The patient is released from the hospital after 1-3 days.
The bone distraction (lengthening) process starts 5-7 days after the operation. The fixators lengthen the bones approximately 1 mm every day, making it possible to gain up to 2.5 cm of height per month. During this stage a patient must adjust the settings of fixation apparatus according to a schedule given by a surgeon after the operation.
The duration of the limb lengthening depends on the desired goals. However, the recommended duration is about 2-6 months. This way a patient can gain up to 15 centimeters of height.
The next stage of limb lengthening is bone consolidation during which the bone starts hardening and healing.
The internal fixation system is removed after 1-2 years after the surgery. The external system must be removed only after the bones are fully healed.
Who is an eligible limb lengthening candidate?
Limb lengthening is more popular with people from particular professional areas (business, military, or modelling). However, the surgery can also be designed to correct hereditary bone conditions (a short femur, proximal femoral focal deficiency, fibular hemimelia, posteromedial bow of the tibia, and others).
How is limb lengthening performed?
Limb lengthening treatment consists of a few phases: preparation, surgery, latency, distraction, and consolidation. The entire process can take 1-2 years, however, the exact timing varies from patient to patient.
During surgery, the thighbones and/or calf bones are lengthened through the process of distraction osteogenesis.
- Firstly, a surgeon cuts a bone in half, creating two separate segments.
- Then the surgeon places internal or external stretching device and performs additional soft-tissue alterations, such as tendon lengthening.
- If an internal fixator is used, it will be placed inside the bone shaft, and thus, not visible on the outside.
- If an external lengthening system is chosen instead, the bone will be securely attached to the lengthening apparatus outside of the body.
After the surgery comes three recovery phases: the latency phase, the distraction phase, and the consolidation phase. During the latency phase, the bones and soft tissue are allowed to heal and rest for 5 to 7 days. During the distraction phase, the stretching devices are adjusted to slowly pull apart the bones (approximately 1 mm a day), therefore stimulating the growth of new bone tissue. The distraction phase is continued until the bones reach the desired length (approximately 2-6 months). The distraction of the bone is performed by the patient himself using a control mechanism according to the schedule. During the consolidation phase, calcium and other important minerals slowly calcify and harden the new bone. It can take about 2 to 3 months for the bones to regain total strength and be able to carry one’s weight fully.
Recovery after the surgery
While recovering, the patients must avoid nicotine and eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein. While the bones are growing, it is crucial to regularly attend physical therapy (3-5 times a week) and see the doctor several times a month for quick check-ups. In case of internal stretching the device is removed after 1-2 years and after the bones have fully consolidated in case of external method. The removal is a short surgical procedure, performed in an outpatient setting which means that the patient does not need to stay in the hospital overnight.
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