Limb Length Discrepancy
Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is a condition of unequal lengths of the femur, tibia or humerus.
LLD is a difference in the length of the bones of the arms or the legs.
Limb length discrepancies can be present at birth or they can develop after a fracture or a traumatic injury.
Limb length discrepancies can also be caused from infections, tumors, and the result of chronic fractures, congenital abnormalities, malunions, or nonunions.1
Prior to Precice, surgical intervention included growth restriction, bone shortening of the longer limb, or leg lengthening of the shorter limb and a painful infection—prone external frame.
LLD treatment options
Bone growth restriction
(epiphysiodesis or growth arrest) may be appropriate for patients with bones that are still growing.
Bone shortening
may be recommended forshortening the longer limb.
Leg lengthening
allows patients to have equal length limbs.
Options for lengthening
The Precice system has been associated with fewer total procedures, as well as being preferred by patients, requiring less pain medication and minimizing procedures performed on healthy legs.1–3
We lengthen, transport and grow bone from the inside, achieving more accuracy and patient satisfaction with less pain, infection and deformity2-4
We lengthen, transport and grow bone from the inside, achieving more accuracy and patient satisfaction with less pain, infection and deformity2-4
1. Lower limb length discrepancy [OrthoInfo from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons]. September 2021. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/. Accessed September 2022.
2. Laubscher M, Mitchell C, Timms A, et al. Outcomes following femoral lengthening. An initial comparison of the Precice intramedullary lengthening nail and the LRS external fixator monorail system. Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1382-8.
3. Landge V, Shabtai L, Gesheff M, et al. Patient satisfaction after limb lengthening with internal and external devices. J Surg Orthop Adv 2015;24(3):174-9.
4. Richardson, S, Schairer W, Fragomen A, et al. Cost comparison of femoral distraction osteogenesis with external lengthening over a nail versus internal magnetic lengthening nail. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2019;27(9):e430-e436.
Caution: Federal law (USA) restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.Proper surgical procedure is the responsibility of the medical professional. Operative techniques are furnished as an informative guideline. Each surgeon must evaluate the appropriateness of a technique based on his or her personal medical credentials and experience.
The PRECICE Intramedullary Limb Lengthening System is intended for limb lengthening, open and closed fracture fixation, pseudoarthrosis, mal-unions, non-unions, or bone transport of long bones in patients age 18 years and older.
Please refer to the Instructions For Use supplied with the product for specific information on the indications for use, contraindications, warnings, precautions, cautions and sterilization. Instructions For Use are also available by contacting us.