Limb lengthening
Leg length discrepancy before & after — Dr. Donghoon (DALRI)
Once surgery and the full recovery period are complete, what changes is: Length and alignment addressed in one treatment plan · LATN, LON, PRECICE or Ilizarov, chosen to fit the bone
Before: what is recorded
Before surgery the team documents the starting point of everyone considering leg length discrepancy — Discrepancy causing a limp, back pain or hip pain · Shortening after childhood bone tumour surgery or fracture — 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
Progress is measured on low-dose full-body EOS radiographs taken before surgery and at every follow-up: femur and tibia length in centimetres, mechanical axis in degrees, and leg-to-torso proportion. The headline figure is the total height gained per lengthening round.
Timeline from surgery to normal life
- 01Day of surgery: osteotomy and lengthening hardware are placed, with an X-ray confirming position before leaving theatre.
- 02Timeline scales with the amount to be corrected — the more length, the longer the treatment.
- 03You 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
How much difference justifies surgery?
There is no fixed threshold; it depends on symptoms such as limping, back pain or joint pain, and on overall alignment. The team assesses radiographs and your actual gait before advising.
When are the results of leg length discrepancy visible?
Day of surgery: osteotomy and lengthening hardware are placed, with an X-ray confirming position before leaving theatre. Timeline scales with the amount to be corrected — the more length, the longer the treatment. 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 leg length discrepancy measured?
Progress is measured on low-dose full-body EOS radiographs taken before surgery and at every follow-up: femur and tibia length in centimetres, mechanical axis in degrees, and leg-to-torso proportion. The headline figure is the total height gained per lengthening round.
Is the result of leg length discrepancy 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.