Dr. Christopher Iobst, an orthopedic surgeon at Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH), is Miami-Dade County’s first to offer a new minimally invasive treatment for children and adolescents with leg length discrepancies or short stature. The new technique enables length correction with an internally implanted telescopic rod adjusted remotely, rather than an external frame surgically attached to the outside of the limb.Leg length discrepancies can be caused by fractures that affect the limb’s growth plates, as well as congenital deformations and infections. Approximately 100 South Florida children per year require treatment for limb discrepancies.
The new method also has potential for children with dwarfism or short stature to help increase height. Both limbs can be treated concurrently with the internal technology, offering a height increase of two to three inches per treatment. For some patients, this might be considered a cosmetic procedure.
The PRECICE remote-controlled leg limb lengthening system – developed by Ellipse Technologies, Inc., of Irvine, California – is implanted through a minimally invasive method. Once in place, the technology can be used to lengthen the femur (thigh bone) and/ or tibia (shin bone) incrementally over the course of several weeks to attain the prescribed length.
“For children who are candidates for this technology, it can offer a tremendous benefit. The traditional technology requires use of an external fixator that is mounted on the exterior of the affected leg for several months while treatment is underway, inhibiting movement,” said Dr. Iobst. “The PRECICE system is more comfortable and cosmetically appealing, as it is completely concealed throughout treatment.”
Treatment with the PRECICE system lasts approximately four to six months, with removal of the rod occurring approximately a year after implantation. Treatment will vary depending on the patient’s needs.
