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What is limb lengthening and deformity correction? The processes of limb lengthening and deformity correction require surgical intervention. When a bone breaks, it naturally regenerates to heal the fracture. Lengthening involves separating the bone and very slowly moving the bone segments apart so that new bone can form in the resulting gap. As the bone segments are slowly moved apart, […]

The History of Limb Lengthening – The Origins of the Ilizarov Method Limb lengthening is possible and has been successfully performed for about 50 years in the city of Kurgan, Russia. The concept of the procedure was developed by Gavriil Abramovich Ilizarov in 1951, after he began treating many World War II veterans with non-union fractures of the lower limbs. At first, Ilizarov […]

Treatment duration and stages of limb lengthening A 3–4-day hospital stay is expected following surgery. The lengthening process usually begins approximately 6–7 days after surgery. In most cases, the bone can be lengthened by about 1 millimeter per day. The time required for bone remodeling in children usually takes twice as long as the lengthening itself, […]

Limb lengthening is a surgical procedure that can significantly improve quality of life—both for medical reasons (e.g., limb length discrepancy, deformities) and cosmetic reasons (desire to increase height). However, like any orthopedic surgery, it carries potential risks that the patient should be aware of and understand. Thanks to the experience of the surgical team and the appropriate care provided at the PALEY EUROPEAN Institute […]

External fixation is one of the oldest and most recognizable techniques used in bone lengthening. For many years, it was the primary tool for correcting limb shortening and deformities. Today, it continues to play an important role in reconstructive orthopedics; however, in the context of cosmetic bone lengthening, its use requires very careful patient selection. The biological basis of this method is distraction osteogenesis. After […]

The anti-gravity treadmill is one of the modern tools used in the rehabilitation of patients following limb lengthening at the Paley European Institute. Its use allows patients to safely begin learning to walk and gradually increase the load on their limbs, without the risk of overloading structures that are particularly sensitive during treatment. In the bone lengthening process, precise control of the forces acting on the limbs is crucial. The treadmill […]