Deformity Correction
What is Deformity Correction?
Deformities can develop before a child is born or during early childhood, or as a result of an injury. They might vary in severity from deformities that affect someone’s mobility to those that are purely aesthetic. The procedure of deformity correction is used to straighten a bone that is bent or twisted in a way that is not normal. After the bone is straightened, the arm, leg, or foot has normal alignment and function. The correction might happen in two different ways: acute correction or gradual correction. Acute correction is a surgical procedure where the correction is completed all at once. Gradual correction involves a procedure where the correction happens slowly over the course of several weeks or months. Your surgeon will choose the best approach based on your unique situation.
How does deformity correction work?
Each procedure may vary but the general process is the following:
- Acute correction
- During this procedure, the surgeon makes a cut across the bone to create two separate bone segments. This is called an osteotomy. After this step, the surgeon will straighten the bone.
- When the position of the bone is corrected, the surgeon inserts an internal device to keep the bone in the corrected position while it heals. After the bone heals, the internal device may be removed during a second surgery.
- Gradual correction
- During this procedure, an external fixator is applied to the bone, then the surgeon cuts the bone into two separate segments and may prepare the muscles and nerves by performing soft-tissue procedures.
- Distraction period follows the surgery, during which the surgeon will give specific instructions and a schedule for how to adjust the external fixator. During this process, the two bone segments are slowly pulled apart and straightened, new bone forms in the space between them.
- After, the consolidation phase involves the period when the new bone (regenerate bone) slowly hardens until it is completely hardened and calcified, which means that it is healed (consolidated).
What is recovery like after deformity correction?
Recovery times vary depending on the procedure that is carried out, the extent of surgery required, your age and general health and wellbeing.
- In the case of gradual correction, the consolidation phase typically takes twice as long as the distraction phase. For example, if a distraction is completed in 1 month, then consolidation will take 2 months. This means that the external fixator would remain on the patient for a total of 3 months.
- After surgery, you can help to speed up your recovery by keeping weight off the affected limb and doing any exercises set by the physiotherapist as these will help you to regain a full range of movement and flexibility.
- To help the bone heal, patients should avoid nicotine in any form, make sure that their diet includes lots of protein, and take vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Adults and children typically have very active lives after deformity correction. Our patients have achieved increased function (better walking/gait), improved muscle strength and maintained their range of motion (flexibility).
What could prevent a bone deformity from being corrected?
- If a patient does not attend physical therapy sessions or perform his home exercises, his muscle strength and range of motion could be affected and the surgeon may ask him to stop treatment.
- Muscle contracture or nerve problems can also cause the surgeon to stop the deformity correction process.
Patient Stories
Deformity Case
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Dr. Ahmed Gadallah has extensive experience in deformity correction. Due to his innovative approach, he completed dozens of operations successfully.