Several treatment options are available, based on the severity of the length inequality and remaining growth. If the leg length discrepancy is mild, a shoe lift or special orthopaedic shoes may be enough to treat the condition. If the limb length inequality is moderate, more complex procedures may be needed.
What are the treatment options for limb length inequality?
Several treatment options are available, based on the severity of the length inequality and remaining growth. If the leg length discrepancy is mild, a shoe lift or special orthopaedic shoes may be enough to treat the condition. If the limb length inequality is moderate, more complex procedures may be needed.
Is there a nonsurgical treatment for uneven leg length?
Nonsurgical Treatment. For patients with minor limb length discrepancies (less than 1 inch) and no deformity, treatment is usually nonsurgical in nature. Because the risks of surgery may outweigh the benefits, surgical treatment to equalize small differences in leg length is not usually recommended.
What is the limb lengthening and Reconstruction Society?
The Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society strives to maintain the highest competency in the field of musculoskeletal deficiencies and reconstruction, including limb length and extremity defects, long bone and growth deformity, limb salvage, trauma and complex limb reconstruction.
How are surgeries designed to correct limb length discrepancy?
In general, surgeries for limb length discrepancy are designed to do one of the following: 1 Slow down or stop the growth of the longer limb 2 Shorten the longer limb 3 Lengthen the shorter limb
How do you treat limb length discrepancy?
Leg-length discrepancies that affect a child's mobility will require treatment. If the difference in legs is small, an orthotic such as a shoe lift may be recommended. For children with more significant leg-length differences, surgery may be needed.
What causes one leg to grow longer than the other?
There are many different reasons to have a leg length discrepancy, but there are two main causes: 1) your child was born with a condition that caused one leg to grow slower than the other or 2) something happened during your child's lifetime that affected the length of the bone (i.e. a fracture) or affected the growth ...
Can leg length discrepancy be cured?
If a child has stopped growing, orthopedists can sometimes correct a leg length discrepancy by shortening the longer leg. This is done by removing a piece of bone from the longer leg. Limb lengthening surgery also can be done.
What happens if one of your legs is longer than the other?
Some people are born with one leg longer than the other. In other cases, injury or illness causes a discrepancy in leg length that may progress over time. This isn't necessarily something to worry about, as a little variation is normal and likely won't lead to any health issues.
How much does leg shortening surgery cost?
The procedure costs $76,000 and requires two hours of surgery and weeks of physical therapy. If a person wants to add height to their appearance, it comes at a cost — $76,000, to be exact.
Can I increase my leg length?
Is It Possible to Get Longer Legs? Many of us have wished to be taller, or to have longer legs, at some point in our lives. Unfortunately, it's not possible to get longer legs once you stop growing. Around 80 percent of a person's height is determined by their genes.