Lengthening methods
External fixation (Ilizarov) before & after — Dr. Donghoon (DALRI)
Once surgery and the full recovery period are complete, what changes is: Simultaneous multi-plane correction with the Ortho-SUV computer system · Fine adjustment mid-treatment without repeat surgery · Usable even in previously infected or previously operated bone
Before: what is recorded
Before surgery the team documents the starting point of everyone considering external fixation (ilizarov) — Complex, multi-plane deformity · Leg length discrepancy combined with deformity · Cases where a nail is impossible — infection or grossly abnormal bone shape — together with radiographs, alignment measurements and the patient's own goal, so there is a fixed baseline to compare against.
How the change is measured
Each method is tracked with serial X-rays showing how fast new bone fills the distraction gap, how dense the regenerate is, and where the nail or fixator sits. The daily distraction rate is adjusted from those films rather than a fixed schedule.
Timeline from surgery to normal life
- 01Day of surgery: the agreed lengthening system is installed and a baseline radiograph is recorded.
- 02The frame stays on longer than in LON/LATN — through the entire consolidation phase.
- 03Daily pin-site care is required to prevent infection.
- 04You must stay in Korea for the whole lengthening and follow-up period; the international team arranges accommodation, interpretation and the physiotherapy schedule.
Limits and what cannot be guaranteed
- 01Bone lengthening is major surgery. Outcome and recovery time depend on bone quality, age, weight and how disciplined the patient is with rehabilitation, so identical results cannot be guaranteed.
- 02Results differ from person to person: bone-forming speed, age, weight, medical history and rehabilitation discipline all change both the timeline and the numbers achieved.
- 03The figures on this page are the general ranges the hospital publishes — not a guarantee and not an individual diagnosis. Only your own imaging can set your expected range.
- 04This site does not publish individual patient photographs. Ask the hospital directly at your consultation if you want to see comparison images or case radiographs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ilizarov still needed now that motorised nails exist?
Yes, in many situations — complex multi-plane deformity, previously infected bone, or bone that cannot take a nail — because the frame allows fine correction throughout treatment.
When are the results of external fixation (ilizarov) visible?
Day of surgery: the agreed lengthening system is installed and a baseline radiograph is recorded. The frame stays on longer than in LON/LATN — through the entire consolidation phase. Daily pin-site care is required to prevent infection. You must stay in Korea for the whole lengthening and follow-up period; the international team arranges accommodation, interpretation and the physiotherapy schedule.
How is the before and after of external fixation (ilizarov) measured?
Each method is tracked with serial X-rays showing how fast new bone fills the distraction gap, how dense the regenerate is, and where the nail or fixator sits. The daily distraction rate is adjusted from those films rather than a fixed schedule.
Is the result of external fixation (ilizarov) permanent, and what cannot be guaranteed?
Bone lengthening is major surgery. Outcome and recovery time depend on bone quality, age, weight and how disciplined the patient is with rehabilitation, so identical results cannot be guaranteed. Results differ from person to person: bone-forming speed, age, weight, medical history and rehabilitation discipline all change both the timeline and the numbers achieved. The figures on this page are the general ranges the hospital publishes — not a guarantee and not an individual diagnosis. Only your own imaging can set your expected range. This site does not publish individual patient photographs. Ask the hospital directly at your consultation if you want to see comparison images or case radiographs.