Sometimes, it is seen that the length of the limbs (generally legs) in children is unequal and as the child grows, it becomes difficult for him/her to cope up with the discrepancy. But there is nothing to worry about, as the orthopedics field has seen a massive advancement in the last 2-3 decades. Thus, there is an effective treatment technique that can correct limb length discrepancies. The technique we are talking about is growth plate fusion (epiphysiodesis).
In this post, we are going to discuss certain facts about growth plate fusion and the benefit this technique will provide. Let us start with a brief introduction to growth plate fusion.
Growth Plate Fusion (Epiphysiodesis) – An Overview
Growth plate fusion is a minimally invasive surgical technique in orthopedics that is done to correct variation in the length of a limb in children. During this procedure, the growth plate present in the limb is fused which is responsible for the growth in children. The reason behind this fusion is to stop the growth to help the shorter limb to catch up with the length of the longer one. Depending upon the condition of the patient, fusion of the growth plate could be done permanently or temporarily. For this surgery, metal Orthopedic Implants are used.
Indications for Growth Plate Fusion
Epiphysiodesis or growth plate fusion is indicated for the treatment or we must say correction of limb length discrepancy in children. This is because when the child is in its growing stage, unequal lengths of the limb can be made equal by slowing down the growth of the longer limb by fusing the growth plates.
This surgery is known to be safe and does not have any associated serious complications. It is a great option for correcting LLD when the projected difference in the limb is around 2-6 cm at maturity.
How Growth Fusion Surgery is Performed?
This minimally invasive surgery is performed by giving anesthesia to the child/adolescent. After that, an incision is made to fuse the growth plates. Depending upon whether they need to be fused permanently or temporarily, the surgeon will choose the implant to be used. Permanent growth plate fusion is the most common surgical procedure and is carried out using the percutaneous drill. After the surgery, the patient need not stay in the hospital overnight.
What After Growth Plate Fusion Surgery?
After the surgery, the surgeon will ask the patient to visit after two weeks for the monitoring of the operated area and the range of motion of the knee. The patient can immediately put weight on the limb right after surgery, while on the other hand, he/she can perform normal activities after around 2-3 weeks. The doctor may also call for follow-up after around 4 months to confirm that everything is fine.
Siora Surgicals is a trusted name in the orthopedic implant manufacturing industry with clients present all around the world. Siora manufactures a wide array of trauma implants including Hand Plating System, Locking Compression Plate, PFNA 2 Nails, and Intramedullary Rod Humerus.