Lengthening methods
LATN (Lengthening And Then Nailing) before & after — Dr. Donghoon (DALRI)
Once surgery and the full recovery period are complete, what changes is: Faster bone formation — patients return to normal activity 1-2 months sooner than with LON · Precise leg-alignment correction during the dedicated correction period · External-fixation time is nearly half that of conventional Ilizarov
Before: what is recorded
Before surgery the team documents the starting point of everyone considering latn (lengthening and then nailing) — Narrow medullary canals or short bones where a nail cannot be placed up front · Severe accompanying deformity needing precise alignment correction · Rare musculoskeletal diseases that other methods struggle with — 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 2-4 weeks longer than in LON because of the added correction period.
- 03After the second operation the bone typically consolidates quickly, so normal life resumes sooner.
- 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
Should I choose LON or LATN?
For general stature lengthening Dr. Lee now uses LON more often because it is simpler and cheaper. LATN is reserved for narrow canals, short bones or deformity severe enough that a nail cannot be inserted initially.
When are the results of latn (lengthening and then nailing) visible?
Day of surgery: the agreed lengthening system is installed and a baseline radiograph is recorded. The frame stays on 2-4 weeks longer than in LON because of the added correction period. After the second operation the bone typically consolidates quickly, so normal life resumes sooner. 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 latn (lengthening and then nailing) 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 latn (lengthening and then nailing) 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.