LLILA, The Limb Lengthening Institute of Los Angeles, The Premier Institute for Cosmetic Limb Lengthening, Deformity Correction, and Height Lengthening.
Home | Contact | Ask the Doctor       
Consultation 310.985.6900    
Dwarfism, Short Stature Limb Lengthening

Short Stature

Dwarfism (Achondroplasia and Hypochondroplasia)

The limb lengthening for Dwarfism is designed to not only increase the patients height, but more importantly fix any deformities with the ankle, hip, elbow, and knee, and to decrease lumbar hyperlordosis, which is a condition when stress is placed on the lower back. This helps reduce spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) in adulthood. There are two approaches for different stages of a patient's life.

Young Children Process:
There is an approach for young children between 6-10 years old with the average external treatment time around 5 months.

Initial lengthening occurs for those 6-10 years old, where we lengthen both femurs (upper leg) and both tibia (lower leg) a total of 10 cm (5 cm in the femur and 5 cm in the tibia), and correct bowleg or knock-knee deformity.

The second (and possibly third) lengthening occur in adolescence, and total increase in lower limb length equals 30 to 35 cm (12 to 13 inches). Total increase in upper limb length is about 10 to 12 cm (4 to 4.5 inches).

Adolescent Strategy

  • between the ages of 14 and 16 years
  • lengthen both femora a total of 10 to 12 cm (4 to 4.5 inches)
  • correct flexion deformity of both hips (this corrects the lumbar hyperlordosis)
  • correct varus deformity of both hips
First lengthening occurs between the ages of 12 and 14 years
  • lengthen both tibiae a total of 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches)
  • correct the varus deformity of the proximal tibia
  • correct the varus deformity of the distal tibia
Second lengthening:
  • between the ages of 13 and 15 years
  • lengthen both humerus (upper arm) a total of 8 to 12 cm (3 to 4.5 inches)
  • correct flexion deformity of elbows
When lengthening the arms between the lower limb lengthening the legs will receive a much needed rest from the lengthening process. The minimal time between lengthening will be 6 months after the device is removed. The patient will not be able to walk during the bilateral femoral lengthening. Patients may only move around with a wheelchair. Once the patient is in the consolidation phase, then they are allowed more weight-bearing activities.

During the bilateral tibial lengthening, patients will have permission to bear weight with the assistance of a walker, crutches, or canes. During bilateral humeral lengthening, typically there are almost no restrictions on activities.



2015 © Limb Lengthening Institute of Los Angeles | Website Design by Infinite Communications