Patients Information | Deformity | Hemi - Epiphysiodesis
Normally height of the bone increases from the end portion of the bone. The area from which the height increases is called physis. Occasionally due to some problem in the bone, one side of the bone grows more than the other side causing deformity. When the outer side of the bone grows more than the inner side then the bone gets pushed inside causing bow legs. When inner side of bone grows more than outer side it pushes bone outwards causing knock knees.
When the child comes early with this deformity then the normal growth of the bone can be utilized to correct deformity. For example, in knock knees where the inner side of the bone
is growing more than outer side, with help of plates, screws or staples the inner side of the bone can be stopped growing temporarily allowing outer side of the physis to grow and correct deformity.
This is a very specialized surgery which requires proper timing and great accuracy with experience. Slightest damage to growing area can lead to opposite deformity or short stature. This surgery is done at a very few centre in India.
For the bow legs where the outer side of bone is growing more, it can be blocked from growing temporarily allowing outer side to grow and correct the deformity.
Nine year old Bhumiraj had developed bow legs due to Rickets (vit D deficiency). With medical treatment her rickets was cured but his bones remained curved. He was operated with outer side screw hemi epiphysiodesis which led to correction of deformity in one year.
Twelve year old Chandani is suffering from a metabolic bone disease called Mucopolysacchyridosis. This led to stunted growth and knock knees.
She underwent screw hemi epiphysiodesis correcting deformity in two years.
Sulagna seven year old girl came to us with knock knees, on detailed investigation no particular cause could be found.
She underwent plate hemi epiphysiodesis before six months. In these six months the distance between her two ankles has reduced from 27 centimeters to 14 centimeters. After full correction of the deformity the plate would be removed to allow normal growth to take place.