Limb Lengthening Glossary
The limb lengthening terms you will hear during your consultation and treatment, explained in plain English.
• Consolidation: the phase after lengthening when the new bone hardens. It usually takes longer than the lengthening itself.
• Contracture: tightness of muscles and tendons that limits joint movement. It is prevented with physiotherapy 6 days a week.
• Distraction: the lengthening phase. The two bone ends are moved apart, usually about 1 mm a day.
• Distraction osteogenesis: the biological process behind limb lengthening. When a bone is cut and slowly pulled apart, the body fills the gap with new bone.
• Equinus: the foot points downward because the Achilles tendon is tight. It is a risk in tibia lengthening.
• ERC (External Remote Controller): the handheld device that lengthens a PRECICE nail through the skin with a magnet.
• External fixator: a frame outside the leg, attached to the bone with pins. LON uses one during lengthening only.
• Ilizarov: a classic circular external frame. It is still used for deformity correction but is rarely chosen for cosmetic height today.
• Intramedullary nail: a metal rod placed inside the hollow centre of the bone.
• Latency: the rest period of about 5 to 10 days between the bone cut and the start of lengthening.
• LON (Lengthening Over Nail): a hybrid method. An external frame lengthens the bone over an internal nail, then the frame is removed and the nail holds the bone.
• Non-union: the new bone does not heal or harden as expected.
• Osteotomy: the controlled surgical cut in the bone that starts the process.
• Premature consolidation: the new bone hardens too early and blocks further lengthening.
• Quadrilateral: lengthening of both femurs and both tibias, for a total gain of typically 12 to 14 cm.
• Regenerate: the new bone that forms in the lengthening gap.
Related pages
• How does limb lengthening work?