NeurocenterOrthopedicsCosmetic limb lengthening
Stay up to date
Watch us
Watch us
Contact

Bone transport

Bone transport, also known as osteogenic distraction, is a medical technique used in orthopedics to treat bone defects and lengthen limbs. The procedure involves moving bone fragments to stimulate new bone growth, allowing the bone gap to fill in naturally. Bone segment transport is performed for severe bone defects resulting from trauma, disease, or congenital defects.

What is bone transport?

Bone transport is a procedure to create new bone at the site of a defect caused by infection, trauma or disease. The space created by the defect is filled with bone taken from elsewhere in the patient's skeletal system. The goal of the procedure is to restore the continuity of the bone, ensuring equal limb length and proper function.

Bone transport - what does it consist of?

Bone transport is a surgical technique that involves transplanting a prepared bone fragment into the site of a large bone defect, allowing the defect to regenerate and ossify more quickly. Bone transport is also called the process of slowly, controlled lengthening of a bone after it has been previously fractured. New bone is formed between the elongated fragments. Lengthening is done with an internal Precice nail or an external apparatus. The external stabilizer consists of pins and wires, which are implanted into two bone fragments during surgery to stretch them. The pins and wires connect to rings on the outside of the leg.

Duration of treatment

The time required to fill a bone defect depends on the size of the defect and each patient's individual ossification process. In the lengthening process, the rule of thumb is that there is one month of ossification for every centimeter of bone lengthened. Bones can be lengthened by about 0.75 to 1.0 millimeter per day.

Bone transport - possible complications

Bone transport is a safe operation, but, like any surgical procedure, it carries the risk of complications. Among the most common are an increased risk of infection at the pin insertion sites, reduced joint mobility, and difficulties in healing the newly formed bone.

Paley European Institute - trust the experience of specialists

Bone transport technique requires experience and knowledge. That's why our specialists are available to patients at any point in the process, guaranteeing help and support no matter the size of the challenge. With us, you'll be in safe hands. Our team includes experienced doctors who specialize in pediatric orthopedics. And because we customize limb salvage techniques, you can rest assured that every aspect of treatment will be carefully considered and tailored to your situation.

Feel free to contact us and schedule an appointment! At Paley European Institute, we provide the highest standard of medical care and an individual approach to each patient.

See other entries

June 11, 2026
Skeletal Dysplasias: Types, Symptoms, and Early Diagnosis – What Every Parent Should Know
Is your child growing differently than their peers? Do their limbs seem disproportionately short? Are they already experiencing joint pain in preschool? It could be skeletal dysplasia—a congenital bone development disorder that requires early diagnosis and specialized care. What are skeletal dysplasias? Musculoskeletal dysplasias are a group of congenital developmental disorders of the musculoskeletal system that affect growth and development […]
June 11, 2026
Living with Skeletal Dysplasia: A Comprehensive Approach to Care—From Diagnosis to Adulthood
Skeletal dysplasia isn’t just a single moment in life—it’s a long journey, where each stage requires different kinds of support. What does comprehensive patient care look like, from diagnosis in infancy through to an active adult life? Dysplasia doesn’t end with a diagnosis. For many families, a diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia—whether achondroplasia, pseudoachondroplasia, diastrophic dysplasia, Morquio syndrome […]
June 11, 2026
Guided Growth: A Revolution in Pediatric Orthopedics – What Is the Hemiepiphysiodesis Method?
Limb deformities in children with skeletal dysplasias do not necessarily mean surgery is inevitable. Thanks to the method of guided growth, correction is possible without cutting the bone—all it takes is a small plate and time. What is guided growth? A child’s bones grow in length thanks to growth plates—zones of active cell division located at the ends of long bones. In children with skeletal dysplasias, […]