Adult Orthopaedics

Limb Lengthening Service

Overview

Chief:

S. Robert Rozbruch, MD

Visit the Service Page for the full faculty listing.

2021 Surgical Volume: 658

2021 Published Studies: 29

Our service can truly change people’s lives. We can help improve the complex problems of limb salvage and amputation; joint preservation; limb lengthening; limb deformity correction; bone loss from infection, tumor or trauma; and foot and ankle deformity for patients of all ages. We are excited to expand our patient education efforts, as many prospective patients and doctors are not fully aware of how we can help them. Our use of innovative techniques has improved our patients’ experiences during complex reconstruction.

Recent Achievements

We have helped develop and champion the Nuvasive Bone Transport Intramedullary Nail, the Orthospin robotically controlled hexapod external fixation system and the RadLink intraoperative system for precision during osteotomy.

In the United States, we have pioneered osseointegration limb replacement surgery for lower and upper extremity amputees along with neuromuscular robotically controlled arm prosthetics. Our group has led the changing paradigms of limb lengthening and deformity correction with transition from external fixation to integrated techniques to the motorized internal lengthening nail without loss of precision.

Among our leadership roles, S. Robert Rozbruch, MD, and Austin T. Fragomen, MD, have served as past presidents of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society.

Notable Publications

Reif TJ, Matthias J, Fragomen AT, Rozbruch SR. Limb Length Discrepancy and Angular Deformity due to Benign Bone Tumors and Tumor-like Lesions. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2021 Mar 10;5(3):e00214. doi: 10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-20-00214. PMID: 33720060

Reif TJ, Khabyeh-Hasbani N, Jaime KM, Sheridan GA, Otterburn DM, Rozbruch SR. Early Experience with Femoral and Tibial Bone-Anchored Osseointegration Prostheses. JBJS Open Access. 2021 Sep 3;6(3):e21.00072. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.21.00072. PMID: 34497971

Hamilton AA, Mehta R, B. Epstein SB, Fabricant PD, Fragomen AT, Rozbruch SR: Core psychosocial issues for children and adolescents in the context of limb lengthening and reconstruction surgery treatment, Journal of Children's Orthopaedics. Published Online:10 Mar 2021. https://doi.org/10.1302/1863-2548.15.200207

Galal S, Shin J, Principe P, Khabyeh-Hasbani N, Mehta R, Hamilton A, Rozbruch SR, Fragomen AT: STRYDE versus PRECICE magnetic internal lengthening nail for femur lengthening. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2021 May 13. doi: 10.1007/s00402-021-03943-8. PMID: 33983528

Goodbody CM, Buksbaum J, Harbison MD, Fragomen AT, Rozbruch SR: Limb Lengthening in Russell-Silver Syndrome: An Update Confirming Safe and Speedy Healing. J Pediatr Orthop. 2021 May 13. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001855. PMID: 33999566

Sheridan GA, Falk DP, MD, Fragomen AT, Rozbruch SR: Motorized Internal Limb-Lengthening (MILL) Techniques Are Superior to Alternative Limb-Lengthening Techniques A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature. JBJS OpenAccess 2020:e20.00115. http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.OA.20.00115

EDUCATION

Our Limb Reconstruction Fellowship, now in its 17th year, trains two fellows per year. The caliber of the fellows and the competition for positions is better than ever.