CP families / correcting leg length discrepancy

[Anonymous]

My DD has very mild Cerebral Palsy, which mostly shows up as toe walking and a difference in the length of her legs. It is to the point that Childrens is now recommending that we do something to even out the length of her legs. She is in a growth spurt and they screw the growth plate of one leg closed so that leg doesn't grow, allowing the other leg to catch up. It is apparently minimally invasive (can go back to school same day). Even though it seems low risk and ultimately a good idea (issues with misaligned hips, spine, etc cause longer term issues), I am a little nervous and would like to hear from other folks out there who have had the surgery and what your experience has been.

thanks.

[Anonymous]

Please go visit Sinai in Baltimore for a 2nd opinion.
They are the leaders for limb lengthening:
https://www.limblength.org/

We had a different procedure done there.

[Anonymous]

My dd does not have cp but she did have the leg length discrepancy surgery done 12 years ago. I am responding because it is not that common a procedure so I will describe my dd’s experience. It was done in the hospital and she went home the same day. She wore a brace on the leg, was on crutches, and was out of school for about a week. She also needed physical therapy to regain bending the knee and full function. Since this was 12 years ago, the procedure may now bemore streamlined but i do feel the doctor glossed over some of the challenges of the surgery.

Mt Sinai is known for lengthening the shorter leg to align with the longer leg. It is a more involved procedure but patients travel from all over the country for the procedure.

Sending good wishes your way.

[Anonymous]

I would get a second opinion from Paul Sponseller, chief of pediatric orthopedics at Johns Hopkins. He has done all my child's surgeries. My child has had numerous surgeries for CP but not this one. Sponseller is very conservative and cautious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dd does not have cp but she did have the leg length discrepancy surgery done 12 years ago. I am responding because it is not that common a procedure so I will describe my dd’s experience. It was done in the hospital and she went home the same day. She wore a brace on the leg, was on crutches, and was out of school for about a week. She also needed physical therapy to regain bending the knee and full function. Since this was 12 years ago, the procedure may now bemore streamlined but i do feel the doctor glossed over some of the challenges of the surgery.

Mt Sinai is known for lengthening the shorter leg to align with the longer leg. It is a more involved procedure but patients travel from all over the country for the procedure.

Sending good wishes your way.

My nephew has this done. Lengthening shorter leg so he didn’t end up shorter. How tall is your daughter projected to be?

[Anonymous]

OP here. My daughter is 5'2". And the procedure they are describing is not really a leg lengthening, but they put a screw in her growth plate of the longer leg, making it so that that leg stops growing. Then the shorter leg has a chance to catch up.

Thanks for all the comments so far. It is much appreciated.