- Dwarka, ND and Gurugram , Haryana, India
Seeking to resolve limb length discrepancy of your child?
It is advisable to get limb length treatment as soon as possible for best recovery.
Dr. Ratnav Ratan is a highly experienced pediatric orthopedic doctor practicing in NCR Delhi and Gurgaon with his practice spanning nearly thirteen years.
Dr. Ratnav Ratan offers limb length treatment in Gurgaon, Delhi.
Limb lengthening treatment helps correct discrepancy in bone length and improve function and alignment.
Limb length is a gradual process that helps to lengthen the bones of upper and lower extremities, the arms and the legs.
This process focuses on increasing the length of the bones and soft tissues.
Limb lengthening procedure may take quite a long time to deliver results.
The procedure is also combined with acute deformity correction for better outcomes.
The symptoms related to limb length discrepancy depend upon the cause and extent of difference.
Mild or slight limb length differences are likely to go unnoticed.
Significant discrepancies such as 4 cms or 1-2/3 inches are visible through limping or an abnormal walking gait.
Also, the patient finds it difficult to not only walk but run and play as well.
The patient may complain of exertion as extra effort is required to stay mobile. It is possible to get limb length treatment in Gurgaon, Delhi by consulting Dr. Ratnav Ratan.
Limb length discrepancy can occur if a broken bone heals in a shortened position especially if it has broken in multiple pieces.
Along with this, there has been substantial injury and exposure of the skin and muscle tissue around the bone. This condition resembles that of an open fracture.
It is possible that the broken bone grows at a faster rate making it longer than the opposite bone. This type of overgrowth is noticed in children who have recovered from thighbone fractures.
Also, it is possible that recovery of injuries near the growth plate result in slower growth and hence a shorter leg.
Children who have been affected by bone infection in their growing stage can develop limb length discrepancy. This is noted in cases of bone infection during infancy stage.
The incidence of certain bone diseases can lead to limb length discrepancy:
The children could be born with these conditions but their length discrepancy can go unnoticed till the children grow further.
In case of underdevelopment, any one of the two bones located between the knee and the ankle is very short and the child may have problems of the foot or the knee.
Equally rare are the incidences of hemihypertrophy and hemiatrophy in children with limb length discrepancy. Hemihypertrophy refers to extremely big one side while hemiatrophy relates to very small one side. The face of the child may also bear a visible discrepancy.
Dr. Ratnav Ratan offers consultation to patients who wish to know more about the causes of limb length discrepancy and limb length treatment in Gurgaon, Delhi.
Parents should observe their child for limb length discrepancy especially. In case of a doubt, consulting a pediatric orthopedist is the best way out who will conduct a thorough physical examination and special tests.
A visit to the pediatric orthopedist means sharing medical as well as general history and symptoms related to limb length discrepancy. The doctor could suggest the child to sit, move, and stand too.
During the exam, your doctor will ask about your child’s general health, medical history, and symptoms.
He or she will then perform a careful examination, observing how your child sits, stands, and moves.
Also, the child will undergo gait analysis; in case of limb length discrepancy, the child will flex his or her knee or walk on their toes.
The doctor could use wooden blocks to provide additional length to the short legs and get the hips at par.
X-rays, CT-scans and scanograms which are special x-rays that use a series of three images and a scale for measuring limb length can also be recommended. CT scans are useful in measuring the length discrepancy of the limbs.
The limb length treatment majorly depends upon the following points:
For limb length discrepancies of less than 1 inch, non-surgical treatment is advised. The reason being risks associated with surgery outweigh the benefits of the surgery.
The most recommended non-surgical treatment includes wearing a shoe lift. This lift is fitted either within the shoe or outside the shoe and works to improve the mobility of the patient. It can also relieve the patient of incessant back pain, if experienced.
The pediatric orthopedist will recommend surgeries to resolve limb length discrepancy by:
Epiphysiodesis is a suitable mode of treatment for growing children. It focuses on slowing or stopping the growth at either one or more growth plates in the longer limb. This procedure helps both limbs reach a more equal length as the child continues to grow. Careful timing of the surgery is very important so that the final limb length difference can be corrected as much as possible.
Epiphysiodesis helps equalize limb length by slowing growth in the longer limb during childhood.
Limb shortening surgery is used after growth completion to balance limb length difference.
Limb shortening is possible on patients who have attained their complete growth.
As the name of the treatment suggests, the longer limb is shortened through a surgical procedure.
The outcome of the treatment is to reach equal length by the time the child reaches his or her teenage years. Hence, the timing of performing the limb shortening procedure plays a crucial role in the treatment.
This treatment is suggested with patients with considerable discrepancies in their limb length.
This procedure is performed either internally or externally.
Also, the outcome of such procedures expected is approximately 1 inch per month or 1 mm per day.
Internal and external lengthening require extensive rehabilitation especially home exercise and physical therapy along with timely visits to the doctor for follow ups.