If one of your legs is shorter than the other, you might undergo a procedure known as leg lengthening. Another name for this disorder is anisomelia.
The surgery to repair the discrepancy is frequently deemed medically necessary. This aids in distributing the weight evenly over your hips. But recently, some people had cosmetic leg lengthening to raise their height by a few inches.
What is Leg-Lengthening Surgery?
This process is carried out gradually, typically over several weeks. This allows your leg bones, such as the tibia and femur, as well as soft tissues like your muscles, skin, and nerves, time to gradually lengthen.
Either the tibia or the femur can be lengthened. It's also possible to extend both bones. The lengthening of the two bones occurs at various intervals, often a few weeks to a year apart. Which option is best for you? Ask your doctor.
Your doctor will advise which bone to extend if you're attempting to bridge the long gap between two legs.
It can take several months to complete the process from beginning to end. It frequently depends on the amount of length being added.
According to Extrapolate, the global limb/leg lengthening surgery market has been estimated to reach USD 4.1 million in 2021 to USD 5.4 million by 2028 and it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period. This number is a clear indication of a robust market in the upcoming future.
What are the factors propelling Limb/Leb Lengthening Surgery?
The growth of the cosmetics industry has increased the attention on aesthetics and physical appearance, which has increased the number of people selecting cosmetic operations globally. A changing perception of beauty and appearance affected by media like films and social media is another cause for the rise in the number of people seeking cosmetic surgery. Additionally, thanks to medical advancements, surgeons can now perform quickly and simply to recover from minimally invasive surgeries. The use of ambulatory care facilities and specialty care facilities has increased as medical technology has improved and risks have lessened.
Better healthcare solutions as a result of healthcare developments have spurred market expansion. The growing number of people seeking cosmetic limb/leg lengthening surgery is partly due to advancements in surgery.
With the aid of cutting-edge medical technologies, aesthetic procedures are becoming more and more popular, which is driving the expansion of the global limb/leg lengthening surgery market. A fully implanted internal bone transport device that can be utilized to correct bone defects without the need for external fixation has recently received FDA approval. Furthermore, limb-lengthening surgery-related phenomena including nerve regeneration and the development of new vasculature could have a significant impact on a range of orthopedic and other medical conditions in the future. limb-lengthening aesthetic surgery as a result of technological advancements in medicine.
Are the High-Cost Posing a Challenge?
The cost of advanced limb/leg lengthening surgery, which is higher than standard operations, is expected to restrain the market's expansion during the forecast period. Surgery to lengthen a limb or a leg is more expensive to maintain and requires more maintenance, which drives up the cost of it. However, the global market for limb/leg lengthening surgery has been growing as a result of expanding consumer preference for cosmetic surgery.
In order to combat these challenges various companies are coming up with innovative procedures and techniques. For instance, in March 2021- A novel limb lengthening technique is being developed by PROLIXO by Blue Ocean Spine GmbH (BOS) to solve the drawbacks of current devices.
2021 February The FITBONE intramedullary lengthening technique has just been introduced by Orthofix Medical OFIX in the US and Europe. This most recent discovery is meant to help the company's global extremities business expansion. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the FITBONE intramedullary lengthening system its seal of approval.
Decoding the Link between Recovery and Rehabilitation
Following limb extension surgery, the recovery period is a crucial phase that necessitates endurance, commitment, and attention to a formal rehabilitation regimen. Patients carefully collaborate with their healthcare professionals during this process to control discomfort, track the development of bone healing, and progressively enhance weight-bearing activities. The development of muscle strength, joint mobility, and general functional capacity all benefit greatly from physical therapy. Age, general health, bone healing response, and the degree of intended extension all affect how long the recovery phase lasts.
Benefits and Indications:
Achondroplasia (dwarfism), post-traumatic deformities, congenital limb length disparities, and height augmentation for people with height complexes are only a few of the clinical indications for limb lengthening surgery. Beyond aesthetic considerations, limb lengthening surgery has many advantages. The technique can help patients with limb length differences regain balance, improve gait, reduce joint stress, and increase general mobility. Additionally, it treats psychological issues with social integration, body image, and self-esteem.
Are there any Risks Involved?
Leg lengthening surgery has inherent risks and potential problems, just like any surgical operation. These could include psychological hardships throughout the protracted recovery phase, infection, nerve or blood vessel injury, delayed bone healing, joint stiffness, hardware-related issues, and concerns. To reduce these dangers and guarantee the best results, rigorous preoperative assessments, meticulous surgical methods, and postoperative care are important. Patients must participate in open conversations with their medical team and be well-informed about any potential consequences.
Limb-lengthening surgery is a field that is developing along with medical technology. Recent innovations include the use of magnetically-driven devices, internal lengthening nails, and growth hormones and stem cells to quicken bone regeneration. These advancements seek to improve the procedure's efficiency, comfort, and safety.
Final Thoughts
A complicated surgical treatment called limb or leg lengthening includes cutting the bone surgically and fastening a device to gradually stretch the bone over several months. Only people with severe limb length disparities or skeletal dysplasia, which might impair movement, and joint function, or lead to persistent pain, are often candidates for this operation. Although the procedure can help people live better lives, there are dangers and potential problems. Patients thinking about limb lengthening surgery should speak with their surgeon to see if the operation is right for them and carefully weigh the risks and advantages. Additionally, some individuals may benefit from non-surgical methods like physiotherapy and orthotics as well as regenerative medicine.