Specialist doctors "We do not recommend limb lengthening surgery for cosmetic purposes"

"It will become a second jaw surgery. I am fundamentally opposed to limb lengthening surgery for cosmetic purposes." Professor Lee Dong-hoon (42) of the Limb Lengthening and Deformity Correction Center at Bundang CHA Hospital met with a reporter from the Kyunghyang Shinmun on the 29th and explained the dangers of limb lengthening surgery by comparing it to jaw surgery. Professor Lee said, "In the past, jaw surgery was a surgery that doctors avoided in dental and plastic surgery. However, as the market gradually became saturated and demand increased, doctors flocked to it." He added, "Jaw surgery, which has high added value, has become popular, and limb lengthening surgery is similar to the early stages of jaw surgery." He pointed out, "The side effects that occur when doctors who have not yet fully matured perform this surgery are serious. Currently, side effects are occurring frequently, and many major damage cases will occur, just like jaw surgery. Because appearance is emphasized, hospitals are recommending this surgery for cosmetic purposes and demand has increased, but it's like carrying a straw bag past a fire."

Professor Song Hae-ryong, head of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "Problems mainly arise when surgery is performed at some private hospitals." He added, "In the past, this surgery was popular in China, and more private hospitals opened, but they could not handle the complications well, so the Chinese government only allowed surgery at accredited locations." He continued, "Patients should be cautious because the more you lengthen, the more complications arise." Professor Park Kwang-won of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "Many people think of limb lengthening surgery as simply a surgery to increase height, but it is a surgery that cuts the bone, fixes it with steel wires, and fills the space, with many complications such as nerve damage." He added, "The problem is that awareness of side effects has not increased along with the surgery becoming famous." Professor Park Hee-wan of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Gangnam Severance Hospital said that some private hospitals advertise that "they can increase the length by up to 10 cm," which is "nonsense." He said, "The range that minimizes muscle damage is about 15% of the total leg length, and 5 to 7 cm is the maximum length that can be increased." He added, "Private hospital doctors are all people who have learned the principles and gone out, but if they perform surgery like that, there is a high probability of nerve and blood vessel damage and joint contracture, which causes many complications. It is not proportional and dangerous."

[Kyunghyang Shinmun] Reporters Park Soon-bong, Kim Ji-won

“It will become a trend like bimaxillary operation. I fundamentally oppose against Ilizarov surgery for cosmetical purposes.”

On 29th, Professor Dong-Hun Lee (42) from limb lengthening correction center, Bundang Cha-hospital met with reporter from Kyung-hyang newspaper and explained the risk of Ilizarov surgery comparing against bimaxillary operation. Lee said, “In the past, bimaxillary operation was avoided even within in dentistry and cosmetic surgery. However as the market got larger and demand was increased, doctors were drawn into it. Bimaxillary operation which had added value became popular and current situation of Ilizarov surgery is similar to early stage of bimaxillary operation.”

He pointed out “the adverse effect occuring from surgery performed by un-matured doctors is severe. At this moment, adverse effects continuously appear and huge damage case will appear. Due to atmosphere of emphaszing on physical appearance, demand for Ilizarov surgery and number of hospitals recommending it increased. However it is just like case of walking next to fire with haystack.”

Professor Hae-Ryong Song, chief surgeon of orthopaedic department, Korea University Kuro hospital said, “usually accidents occur when surgeries are performed at private hospitals. In the past the surgery became popular in China and several hospital based on Iliarov surgery opened. However as they could not take care of complications, only hospitals authorized by Chinese government are able to perform surgery. Also patients need to be careful as risk of complications increase as degree of lengthening increases.”

Professor Gwang-Won Park, orthopaedic department, Korea University Kuro hospital said, “Public often takes Ilizarov surgery as simple surgery increasing your height however it is a procedure of severing a bone followed by fixating with metal wire and fill the gap with huge risk of complications including nerve damage. Public not being aware of adverse effect whilst surgery became popular, is the problem.”

Professor Hee-wan Park, orthopaedic surgery Gangnam Severance hospital affirmed that a few private hospitals advertising “can increase the height up to 10cm” is completely false. He said, “Range of minimizing muscle damage is 15% of total leg length and between 5 and 7cm is the maximum. Doctors of private hospitals are graduates of medical school who learnt all the fundamentals. They should know that it is dangerous to perform surgery in such manner and increase risk of nerve and vessel damage and arthrogryposis.”

[출처]

[Kyunghyang Shinmun] Article on specialists "We do not recommend limb lengthening surgery for cosmetic purposes" published. 2013.08.30

[The Kyunghyang Shinmun]

Specialists “do not recommend limb lengthening surgery(Ilizarov surgery) for cosmetical purposes”. Aug 30, 2013

Link : http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201308300000035&code=940601