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With bone growth restriction, hospitalization of up to a week is common. Sometimes a cast is placed on the leg for 3 - 4 weeks. Healing is complete in 8 - 12 weeks, at which time full activities can be resumed.
With bone shortening, 2 - 3 weeks of hospitalization with bedrest is usual. Sometimes a cast is placed on the leg for 3 - 4 weeks. Muscle weakness is common, and muscle-strengthening exercises are started soon after surgery. Crutches are used for 6 - 8 weeks. Some children require 6 - 12 months to regain normal knee control and function. The intramedullary (inside the bone) rod is removed at 1 year.
With bone lengthening, hospitalization lasts a week or longer. The time that the lengthening device is in use depends on the amount of lengthening to be achieved. Intensive physical therapy is required to maintain normal range of motion. Frequent visits to the doctor are necessary to adjust the lengthening device. Meticulous care of the pins holding the device is essential to prevent infection. Healing time of the bone is determined by the amount of lengthening. For each centimeter of lengthening, 36 days of healing is allotted.
Following removal of the device, activities are usually restricted for several weeks to allow for healing of the holes in the bone where the pins were. This minimizes the risk of breaking the bone through these holes until healing has occurred.
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