Advertisement for orthosearch.org.uk
Orthopaedic Proceedings Logo

Receive monthly Table of Contents alerts from Orthopaedic Proceedings

Comprehensive article alerts can be set up and managed through your account settings

View my account settings

Visit Orthopaedic Proceedings at:

Loading...

Loading...

Full Access

Children's Orthopaedics

LOWER LIMB LENGTHENING FOR DISPROPORTIONATE SHORT STATURE: WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL FUNCTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE?

Combined British Limb Reconstruction Society (BLRS) & British Society for Children's Orthopaedic Surgery (BSCOS) AGM & Instructional Course – additional abstracts.



Abstract

Purpose

To examine the effect of limb lengthening on the quality of life of people who have disproportionate short stature (DSS).

Method

Thirteen previous patients, completed the SF-36, the Derriford Appearance Scale and participated in face to face semi structured interviews to establish the impact on their physical and social functioning, their present situation including employment, education, housing and leisure activities and their thoughts about whether they felt the treatment had been worthwhile. To increase understanding about the patient and family experience of limb lengthening, participants were asked about their memories of the procedure and the treatment period.

Results

Much was learned about key areas such as pain control, pin site cleaning and physiotherapy. The importance of the role of families in supporting the patient through the treatment was strongly emphasised and how this was sometimes at the expense of siblings.

Conclusions

Overall all participants were able to find some benefit to the procedure but they had mixed feelings about the outcome. There was evidence of benefit to some physical capabilities and confidence levels but there were areas where the situation was similar to those with DSS who had not had surgery e.g. bodily pain. It is acknowledged that this study has some methodological weaknesses which reduce the strength of the findings.