Amputating leg bones for ‘height increase surgery’… Side effects abound

More and more young people are undergoing the so-called "height increasing surgery" which involves intentionally fracturing leg bones to increase height.

The problem is that surgery costs tens of millions of won, and serious disabilities can result.

Reporter Kim Won-jang reports.

<Report>

One orthopedic clinic in Seoul, known as a 'height increase surgery hospital'.

<Recording> Orthopedic clinic counselor: "The height that increases is only about 5-6cm, but if the calf is long, it feels like more than 10cm when others perceive it."

Lower extremity lengthening, commonly known as height increase surgery, involves cutting the shinbone, inserting a steel rod inside the bone, attaching an external fixation device around the leg, and gradually lengthening the leg.

The hospital warns of side effects in advance.

<Recording> Orthopedic clinic counselor (voice altered): "You may develop equinus, nerve damage..."

As the number of actual surgery hospitals increases, serious side effects are occurring frequently.

A man in his 30s whose cut bone has not grown for nearly a year.

A man in his 20s whose pelvic bone has necrotized.

There is also a housewife in her 30s whose steel rod suddenly broke, breaking her ankle.

<Interview> Mr. Jung (housewife/voice altered): "Even if I have revision surgery, I will become disabled in the future. I have to limp."

Nevertheless, roughly 600 young people a year go under the knife, asking to be taller.

<Interview> Song Hae-ryong (Professor, Korea University Guro Hospital): "If these complications are not treated, the patient's life can be ruined."

A surgical method developed to correct dwarfism patients or deformed legs is being used to increase height, which increases side effects.

KBS News Kim Won-jang.

[Source]

KBS 1 TV [KBS News 9] "Amputating leg bones for ‘height increase surgery’… Side effects abound" Broadcast August 30, 2013

KBS 1 TV [KBS News 9]  amputating leg bone "operation to be taller" series of side effects. Aug 30, 2013

Link : http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/NewsView.do?SEARCH_NEWS_CODE=2716265&ref=A