Amr Abdelgawad, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Texas, has invented a novel implantation device that can lengthen the bones of young people internally and with significantly less trauma and morbidity. “Current limb-lengthening techniques are uncomfortable and can make kids feel socially awkward, ” explained Abdelgawad.
Pin-Less Bone Lengthening Device Invented
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The standard bone-lengthening process involves cutting the bone in half and then placing a bulky, tubular frame around it for six to nine months. The frame, known as an external fixator, is joined to the broken bone through large pins that penetrate the skin. The fixator slowly pulls the two halves of bone apart, which promotes new bone tissue to grow in between them.
According to Abdelgawad, his invention sidesteps the bulky frame, and avoids penetrating the skin with pins, which can lead to infection. No pins also means there will be less pain and scarring.
He also notes that his device will be the first of its kind that can be used on children who still have growth plates. Growth plates are structures that are vital for bone growth of the young. They eventually disappear. Current internal bone-lengthening techniques cannot be used on children, he says, because they would damage the growth plate.
Abdelgawad’s device, he claims, could completely avoid potential damage of the growth plate. It is entirely internal, requiring a single implantation of a thin, metal plate that attaches alongside the bone with screws. Using a handheld remote control, the patient can adjust the rod to extend slowly over time, extending the bone. “This is going to give children who need it access to bone-lengthening, ” said. Abdelgawad. “It’s going to help those who suffer from skeletal deformities like dysplasia, limb-length discrepancies or those who have suffered from bone trauma.”
The device is reported to still be in the development phase and is co-patented with Noe Vargas Hernandez, Ph.D., an associate professor of engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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