If we can get stem cells to differentiate to chondrocytes then it will be possible. Problem is that you need literally hundreds of billions of these cell to have a noticeable growth plate. I'm sure it can be done, but it probably still needs a osteotomy (bonecut) and fixators to insert these cells and let them flourish bcuz it can't do it in solid bone.
I assume the process will be:
Regular leg lengthening procedure surgery, Internal nail and all that also.
Insert stem cells/chondrocytes, maybe even a small small lab grown growth plate made with stem cells turning into chondrocytes/cartilage in a petri dish
Distraction maybe max 0.5cm- 1cm across 2 weeks to form a small gap. Stop lengthening asap.
Have the internal nail hold the "new growth plate" in place while the growth plate is noticeably forming, maybe administer an aromatase inhibitor to slow or halt the ossifying(turning into bone) rate until it fills the gap completely.
Once the growth plate fills the tiny gap, administer HGH.
No doubt the person will still be handicapped for at least a month, and probably will need to do physical therapy post surgery since they still CUT their bone in half, but the purpose of this is to "install" a growth plate made from stem cell differentiating into chondrocytes and cartilage
I would expect for such a small lengthening of 1cm to be off crutches or assistance within a month with a normal gait, especially with the strydes, and fully recoverable within 4 months or so. You essentially lengthened a cm basically, you won't have too much issues.
Now you have a growth plate, and as long as you stay on aromatase inhibitors and higher doses HGH, your growth plate will keep growing and ossification will occur naturally as if you were in puberty. To close the growth plate just stop the HGH and aromatase inhibitor.
I suspect this might be abused and people will try to be 7ft Giants, but whatever, this is only conjecture and theory, don't roast me because I'm not a doctor and the above is just what I believe is the most likely way stem cells will be used in the future.
Tldr:
1. Stem cell differentiates into chondrocytes, the material of growth plates
2. We do a regular LL surgery, but only lengthen 0.5-1cm and install the stem cell chondrocytes "fake growth plate"
3. Normal post surgery PT and stretching, but much reduced pain bcuz u lengthen only 0.5-1cm and that's done within like 10 days after surgery, normal gait within a month probably (remember we lengthening basically nothing)
4. Take cktails of drugs to delay the new growth plate from closure temporarily as we try to grow it to fill the distraction gap (aromatase inhibitor and HGH, these are real and studied and effective and I'm on an AI as we speak
)
5. Full recovery within 4 months (remember we lengthened almost nothing) and now we have a growth plate. Continue and adjust HGH dose for growth rate control and continue these drugs until desired height.
You will grow at a normal rate like a teenager, you could make it as fast as a growth spurt(probably shouldnt bcuz growing pains) or a stable amount like 1 inch every 6 months. Just adjust HGH dosage (dosage directly correlates with rate growth, tons of studies of this on kids)
6. End the drugs after done lengthening, stop the aromatase inhibitor and HGH when you're happy with your height.
Obviously this is random guessing on how stem cells would be used in height therapy, but I'm pretty confident it will be something like this.
Unfortunately
osteotomy (breaking bones) still needed, but fortunately the recovery is literally godlike, no distraction pain for 3 months, no stretched muscles (only 1cm stretch haha), expect full recovery from surgery within 4 months (jumping, sports) since there's no new bone yet, just a growth plate. Functionally you could probably be walking any doing your business going back to school within a month.
HIGHLY doubt this process will be created until at least the next ten years, and fda approved at least 30 years later
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Topic: Stem Cells for Bones... And soon Stem Cells for growing taller (Read 2305 times)