Information for Medical Professionals

Size of increase in leg length affects incidence of joint stiffness

An increase in the magnitude of leg lengthening in achondroplastic patients has a direct effect on the incidence of knee joint stiffness following surgery, it has been claimed.

According to research published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery titled Magnitude of Lengthening in Relation to Patterns of Callus, Stiffness of Adjacent Joints and Fracture, increasing leg length can lead to further complications.

The researchers looked at 40 femoral lengthening cases.

Subjects were divided into two groups, with group A undergoing lengthening procedures which added less than 50 per cent of their original femoral length to the leg.

Meanwhile, Group B had their leg lengthened by more than 50 per cent of their original femoral length.

The researchers noted: "Group B was associated with an increased incidence of concave, lateral and central callus shapes, adjacent joint and stiffness and fracture."

A recent research piece looking at flexion following total knee replacement surgery showed that the amount of posterior or medial soft tissue material released during the procedure had no impact on flexion a year on, reports Ortho Supersite.

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