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. 2020 Jul 8;9(7):341-350.
doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.97.BJR-2019-0379.R1. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Cosmetic stature lengthening: systematic review of outcomes and complications

Yousef Marwan  1 , Dan Cohen  1 , Mohammed Alotaibi  1 , Abdullah Addar  1 , Mitchell Bernstein  2 , Reggie Hamdy  2
Affiliations

Cosmetic stature lengthening: systematic review of outcomes and complications

Yousef Marwan et al. Bone Joint Res. .

Abstract

Aims: To systematically review the outcomes and complications of cosmetic stature lengthening.

Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched on 10 November 2019 by three reviewers independently, and all relevant studies in English published up to that date were considered based on predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. The search was done using "cosmetic lengthening" and "stature lengthening" as key terms. The Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement was used to screen the articles.

Results: A total of 11 studies including 795 patients were included. The techniques used in the majority of the patients were classic 3- or 4-ring Ilizarov fixator (267 patients; 33.6%) and lengthening over nail (LON) (253 patients; 31.8%), while implantable lengthening nail (ILN) was used in the smallest number of patients (63 patients; 7.9%). Mean end lengthening achieved was 6.7 cm (SD 0.6; 1.5 to 13.0), and the mean follow-up duration was 4.9 years (SD 2.1; 41 days to 7 years). Overall, the mean number of problems, obstacles, and complications per patient was 0.78 (SD 0.5), 0.94 (SD 1.0), and 0.15 (SD 0.2), respectively. The most common problem and obstacle was ankle equinus deformity, while the most common complications were deformation of the regenerate after end of treatment and subtalar joint stiffness/deformity.

Conclusion: Cosmetic stature lengthening provides favourable height gain, patient satisfaction, and functional outcomes, with low rate of major complications. Clear indications, contraindications, and guidelines for cosmetic stature lengthening are needed.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(7):341-350.

Keywords: Cosmetic; Limb lengthening; Stature lengthening.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the systematic search strategy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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