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. 2010:2010:740629.
doi: 10.1155/2010/740629. Epub 2010 Dec 2.

Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Epiphysiodesis Operation around the Knee to Reduce Adult Height in Extremely Tall Adolescent Girls and Boys

Emelie Benyi  1 , Maria Berner, Inger Bjernekull, Anders Boman, Dionisios Chrysis, Ola Nilsson, Anne Waehre, Henrik Wehtje, Lars Sävendahl
Affiliations

Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Epiphysiodesis Operation around the Knee to Reduce Adult Height in Extremely Tall Adolescent Girls and Boys

Emelie Benyi et al. Int J Pediatr Endocrinol. 2010.

Abstract

Objective. The aim was to determine efficacy and safety of a surgical method to reduce adult height in extremely tall adolescents. Methods. Data for all girls (n = 12) and boys (n = 9) in our center subjected to bilateral percutaneous epiphysiodesis around the knee who had reached final height were included. Final height predictions were based on hand and wrist X-rays before surgery. Results. When compared to prediction, adult height was reduced by 4.1 ± 0.7 cm in treated girls (P < .001) and 6.4 ± 0.7 cm in treated boys (P < .001) corresponding to a 33.6 ± 3.4% and 33.6 ± 4.2% reduction of remaining growth, respectively. Besides mild to moderate postoperative pain reported in 9 operated individuals, no other side effects were reported. Postoperative X-rays confirmed growth plate closure and absence of leg angulations. Conclusions. Bilateral epiphysiodesis is an effective and safe method to reduce adult height in extremely tall girls and boys.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Predicted growth (Pred growth), increase in height (Inc Ht), increase in sitting height (inc SH), and increase in leg length (leg growth) from time of surgery.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of patients based on height reductions versus predictions in girls and boys.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Reduction of predicted final height as a function of bone age at time of surgery. In both girls and boys, a negative correlation was found between bone age and reduction of predicted final height.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relative sitting height as a function of bone age in girls (a) and boys (b). For individual patients, the symbols illustrate the relative sitting height and bone age at time of surgery and at adult height. The hatched horizontal lines indicate the mean relative sitting heights for the normal population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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