Congenital leg shortening
Clinical Condition
In a boy, a leg length difference was already noticeable in infancy, which could initially be compensated well with adapted footwear. At the age of 12, the right leg was 7 cm shorter and there was also a valgus deformity (knock-knee), so that he was increasingly unable to cope with the modified shoes.
12-year-old boy with shortening and knock-knees
7 cm shortening of the right thigh
Treatment
Continuous lengthening of the right thigh with intramedullary distraction nail
During the first stage of treatment, the valgus deformity was corrected and, despite the still open growth plate, an intramedullary distraction nail was inserted into the femur via the knee joint using a minimally invasive technique. The leg length difference was completely corrected.
Result
At the end of growth, a second lengthening stage was carried out in the same way at the age of 16 by cutting the bone again via a 6 mm skin incision, replacing the intramedullary distraction nail, and the remaining leg length difference was gradually corrected. The treatment goal was achieved without complications according to the planning, and the treatment costs were covered by public health insurance.
Final view
Both legs, straight and of equal length
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