I lengthened 5.5/6 CM on femurs 8 years ago and will lengthening tibias/fixing deformity in February 2022. I kind of see 2 options going forward:
Lengthen tibias around 4.5 CM for final height of around 5”10:
1) Preserve 80% tibs to femur ratio
2) Faster healing/lower risk of complication
3) Likely no soft tissue release
Lengthen tibias around 6-6.5 CM for final height of around 5”11:
1) Higher tibia/femur ratio (possibly linked to osteoarthritis, but will ask surgeon about this)
2) Probably an additional 3 months on crutches (since I am doing unilateral and this will add recovery times to both sides).
3) Will probably have to get gastroc release, but will ask if we can try Botox as a first option. Hopefully such a treatment will be relatively inexpensive and at least partially covered by insurance.
Obviously I’d prefer to get max height since I am paying a ton of money for this and I know I only get one shot to do this, but kind of freaked out about increasing arthritis risk by overlengthening tibias or permanent weakness from muscle release.
Would love to hear some thoughts on this, especially from those who have lengthened only tibias or those who have overlengthened tibias in relation to femurs.