Epiphysiodesis

Epiphysiodesis is a Pediatric surgical procedure in which the epiphyseal (growth) plate of a bone is removed.

This procedure is used to:

*Lengthen an abnormally short leg
*Shorten an abnormally long leg
*Limit growth of a normal leg to allow a short leg to grow to a matching length [1] This can incorporate a bone graft to produce fusion of the epiphysis or premature cessation of the epiphyseal plate's growth.

The epiphysis can be removed in one of the bone's end to slow down the growth, or in both ends to stop growth of that bone completely.

Limitations

The surgery must also be carefully planned with regard to timing, as it is non-reversible, so that the limbs are at near-equal length at end of growth.

References

[http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/002965.htm] Leg lengthening/shortening