Let’s outline the typical timeline for femoral lengthening surgery:
Preoperative Consultation: Patients usually come in for their preoperative consultation a day or two before the surgery.
Day Zero: The surgery itself takes about three hours. Patients will spend approximately two weeks in the hospital, focusing on pain management, restoring normal function, and performing daily activities like showering, using the bathroom, and eating. During this period, we also establish the rehabilitation routine.
Rehabilitation Facility: After the hospital stay, patients are transferred to a rehabilitation facility.
Lengthening Process: We typically begin the lengthening process between days 10 and 14 post-surgery, at a rate of 0.75 mm per day. For a target length of 65 mm (6.5 cm), the distraction phase usually takes around 80 to 90 days.
Post-Lengthening: Once lengthening is complete, the focus shifts to consolidation and restoring function, which takes several additional months. At the 100-day mark, when lengthening stops, patients typically transition to crutches within about 6 weeks.
Weaning Off Crutches: After achieving safe crutch walking, we gradually wean patients off crutches over the next 6 to 8 weeks.
In summary, this timeline covers the major stages of femoral lengthening surgery for achieving approximately 65 mm of length.
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