Lengthening with a growing nail

Magnetic field leg lengthening is made possible through the use of internal growing nails, which by lengthening stimulate bone growth. At the same time, the operation to lengthen the bones of the lower limbs is reduced to several small incisions, through which the nail is inserted into the marrow canal. An additional incision is made to perform an osteotomy.

Lengthening with Precice is a method used since 2011. The magnetic nails used at the Paley European Institute, combined with a unique minimally invasive surgical technique, allow for significant reductions during lengthening:

• pain complaints,
• infections,
• deformation,
• total number of surgical procedures,
• Wound and bone healing time.

Doctors and Patients agree that Precice allows for a higher level of Patient satisfaction by improving quality of life during limb lengthening.

The method is reproducible and, in our hands, safe. Over the past year, we have achieved more than 8 cm in bone in 16 patients. Below is an X-ray of one of them (Photo 1).

During nail implantation, we also very often correct deformities of the lower limbs, for example, sub-leg talus including obtaining more than 5 cm of new bone (Photo 2).

This type of leg lengthening surgery cannot be performed on every patient. Lengthening the tibia and lengthening the femur with a growing nail depends on the diameter of the marrow canal and the length of the bone - Tomasz Albrewczynski, Medical Director of Paley European Institute.

The implant is available in several diameters and lengths, selected to suit the patient's individual anatomy. It also determines the lengthening time with the help of an external ERC controller (a small device that activates the nail from the outside), which allows adjustments of 0.001mm/day.