Outcomes
of patients reached their target height in 2025.
return to full function.
Low Complication Rates. Unparalleled Clinical Experience.
Stature surgery shares surgical risks common with many other types of orthopedic surgery.
Fat Embolism
Fat escapes from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, and can lead to low oxygenation, extended hospitalization, or in extremely rare cases, death.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) / Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
A blood clot in the deep veins of the leg (DVT) that can travel to the lungs, causing a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism.
Premature Consolidation
Bone heals before lengthening is completed. Often can be resolved non-operatively.
Delayed or Failed Consolidation
Bone heals improperly after lengthening. Often can be resolved non-operatively.
Fibular Complications
Complications including subluxation, failure of union, or arthritis of the ankle due to improper fixation of the fibula to the tibia during surgery.
Nerve Injury
Nerve injury typically occurs due to physician inexperience or over-lengthening.
These complications are largely avoidable, and exceedingly rare at the Paley Institute. However, we treat many patients from other stature centers who experience these complications.
Muscle Contractures
Soft tissue must stretch as bones are lengthened. If soft tissue is stretched too far, it can interfere with the joint's range of motion, leading to long-term disability.
Secondary Deformities
Angular deformities, including flexion or valgus deformity, mainly due to inadequate surgical planning or outdated technologies.
Full Recovery in Action
