Dr. Lee Dong Hoon

Stature lengthening (leg lengthening)

Stature lengthening uses distraction osteogenesis: the bone is cut and then separated roughly 1 mm a day so new bone forms in the gap. It can be done on the tibia or the femur, typically 6-7 cm per round, with 5-7 months before a full return to normal life.

LON (Lengthening Over Nail)

In LON an intramedullary nail is inserted together with an external fixator at the first operation. Once the target length is reached, a second operation locks the nail and removes the external frame — cutting external-fixation time to roughly half that of classic Ilizarov.

PRECICE / STRYDE internal lengthening nail

PRECICE (Nuvasive, USA) is a fully implantable, magnetically driven lengthening nail — no external fixator at all. STRYDE works on the same mechanism but is designed to allow far more weight-bearing. Dr. Donghoon Lee was the first surgeon in Asia to perform PRECICE lengthening successfully and holds the largest single-surgeon case volume in Asia.

LATN (Lengthening And Then Nailing)

In LATN only the external fixator is applied at the first operation; after lengthening, a second operation inserts the nail and removes the frame. Compared with LON, bone forms faster and leg alignment can be corrected more precisely. Dr. Donghoon Lee was the first in Korea to perform LATN successfully, in 2010.

External fixation (Ilizarov)

The Ilizarov method uses an external frame throughout both the lengthening and consolidation phases. Even with LON and LATN available, it remains essential for complex deformity. The institute now pairs it with a computer-assisted correction system (Ortho-SUV, a Stewart platform), correcting multi-plane deformity in a single operation — the largest case volume of its kind in Korea.

Arm lengthening (humerus)

Humerus lengthening is used both for arm-length discrepancy and for cosmetic proportion. The conventional route uses a mono-fixator, which allows 8-10 cm and lets patients use the arm for daily tasks. The institute now favours the internal PRECICE nail: smaller scars, less pain and no pin-site infection.

Leg length discrepancy

Leg length discrepancy can follow childhood growth-plate injury, infection, bone tumour, congenital conditions or previous bone surgery. Treatment lengthens the short side to match, correcting any accompanying angular or rotational deformity in the same plan so alignment and gait rebalance together.

Leg lengthening with deformity correction

Many stature-lengthening patients also have bowlegs, knock-knees or torsion. The institute plans lengthening and realignment together, so height and straight alignment are achieved in one treatment rather than a second operation later.

Brachydactyly & brachymetatarsia

Brachydactyly most often affects the metacarpals (especially the 2nd and 5th) and metatarsals (especially the 1st and 4th). Causes include childhood growth-plate damage from infection or tumour, genetic disorders, and — most commonly — no identifiable cause. Except in severe cases it does not impair function, so surgery is usually cosmetic.

Bowleg correction with SADO

Bowlegs (genu varum) bow outward at the knee, and many patients have both angular and rotational deformity. Correcting the angle alone with a high tibial osteotomy can bring the knees together yet leave the overall alignment looking unnatural. Dr. Donghoon Lee therefore developed SADO — Simultaneous Angular and Derotational Osteotomy — correcting both in one operation.

Knock-knee correction (genu valgum)

Knock-knees (genu valgum) leave the knees touching but the ankles apart when standing. Causes include trauma, childhood rickets, hereditary multiple exostosis and idiopathic cases — more common in women and often linked to body weight. Braces and physiotherapy rarely help, because the deformity is in the bone.

Rotational deformity (in-toeing & out-toeing)

Rotational deformity lies in the rotational plane of the femur or tibia, producing in-toeing or out-toeing gait. It is often missed because plain radiographs do not show it. Treatment is a derotational osteotomy, which can be combined with angular correction using the SADO technique.