Lengthening surgeries, which are desired to be performed due to structural defects and aesthetic concerns, can be a difficult journey for patients, as they require a long and intensive treatment process. Minimizing the risks in this journey, increasing the comfort of the patient, and the real benefit of the patient are among the most important goals of the surgery. Before the operation, the physician and the patient should talk for a long time about the benefits and harms of the lengthening surgery, come to a consensus, and the physicians should not take unnecessary risks.

Since these surgeries involve a difficult treatment process, the doctor and the patient must be reconciled. If the patient’s comfort will increase thanks to the surgery and it will contribute to his treatment, and most importantly, if the patient is willing to undergo this surgery, if he has the physical strength, patience and endurance to withstand a long treatment, it will be beneficial to perform the surgery. Before the operation, physical examinations should be done in detail so that both the patient and the physician do not take risks, the patient’s psychological condition should be well rested, and the rules to be followed in the postoperative period should be explained. The patient’s compliance with treatment depends on working in harmony with his physician. If the patient does not pay attention after the surgery and the material used is not of good quality, the leg bone may be bent as fractures and curvatures may occur. Since a series of surgeries will be required to correct this curvature, it is of great importance to use the highest quality materials.

The ages of people who want to have surgery and the risks they carry are different from each other. When lengthening surgeries have to be performed at older ages, there is not enough bone tissue formation or it is slow, so the post-operative process requires more patience and endurance. In bone surgeries, the age factor is decisive for the healing process. No matter how much information is given about the benefits and harms of lengthening surgery, it would be much better to listen to people who have experienced these processes. Although the structure, age, risks and life conditions of individuals are different from each other, the experiences told and lived by people who have gone through the same roads and had the same surgery can be instructive. Physicians should help their patients in this regard, and should listen to the patients who have completed this process, what they might experience after deciding on lengthening surgery.

What kind of complications can occur during the surgery?

As with any surgery, there are some complications in lengthening surgeries. Minimizing these complications is the primary goal of all physicians. Since the postoperative period is long, there are several factors that affect the course of treatment. Although it is not a desirable situation, infections, lack of bone tissue in the lengthening area, stiffness in the joints, weakening of the bones during and after the lengthening and fractures are among the complications, albeit very low. In the event of such situations, it is important that the most appropriate treatments are carried out, the patient is patient and resilient, and the trust between the physician and the patient is not shaken. It is important for the patient and the physician to discuss all risks and possible complications before the operation.

What are the factors affecting the success of the surgery?

Lengthening surgeries cover a period of approximately 6 months. Therefore, a long treatment journey is made. In general, it takes a period of 1 month to achieve a lengthening of 1 centimeter in each lengthened bone. Factors such as the age of the person, individual factors and whether any medical problems occur during the extension are effective in extending the extension within the given time. The younger the patient’s age, the better the bone quality, the higher the bone formation potential and the better the other general health conditions, the more successful the lengthening will be. Bone lengthening periods can vary between 4 months and 1-2 years. In order to avoid any problems after the operation, patients must fully comply with the recommendations of the physicians regarding treatment. Failure to follow the recommendations increases the risk of problems. It is important to come to the controls regularly and to inform the doctor without wasting time in case of the smallest disruption.

Is there a risk of infection?

There is always a risk of bone infection due to internal nails in lengthening surgery performed with orthopedic implants placed in the bone. Therefore, with the help of appropriate antibiotics given after surgery, patients are protected against the risk of infection. In externally applied devices called external fixators, soft tissue infection, called pin site infection, may occur.

Is there any risk after the operation?

Severe pain in the muscles, nerves and veins is possible. In addition, muscle weakness may occur due to the inability to use the leg actively during the lengthening process. For this reason, performing physical therapy exercises at the time recommended by the physician, with the recommendation of the physician, eliminates these weaknesses. If a good physical therapy process is not followed, limitation in joint movements and stiffness in the joints may occur. For this reason, it is necessary to continue physical therapy regularly and never fail. Especially in lengthening the bones of the lower leg, the Achilles tendon may be short if the patient is stretched more than his muscles and nerves can handle. In medical terms, it is best to extend 5-7 centimeters for the lower leg and 6-8 centimeters for the upper leg. After approximately 4-5 cm lengthenings, patients should be checked more frequently and physical therapy exercises should be performed. Here, physical therapy is indispensable for lengthening surgeries, it has a great role and task in increasing the comfort of patients.