Our team
The Adult and Paediatric Limb Deformity Reconstruction service at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Royal Hospital for Children and Young People Edinburgh is led by Consultants who are renowned both nationally and internationally for their clinical and academic excellence. Limb deformity reconstruction is a sub-specialty of Orthopaedic surgery that deals with the treatment of problems resulting from trauma, infection, or generalised skeletal conditions. A dedicated multidisciplinary team is used to optimise clinical outcomes and patient experiences
Our work
Limb deformity reconstruction techniques are used to replace missing bone to lengthen and/or straighten legs and arms in children and adults with the aim to improve function by restoring the normal alignment of the body. The service has expertise in a multitude of reconstructive strategies–distraction osteogenesis (bone transportation), bone transfer or grafts, epiphysiodesis, and arthrodiatasis–using both external fixation (e.g. Ilizarov, Taylor Spatial, and Hexapod frames) and internal fixation (e.g. Precice limb lengthening nail) techniques. Conditions treated include:
- Congenital bone dysplasia - Birth conditions that cause disturbances in bone growth which can result in short stature and limb abnormalities.
- Musculoskeletal infection e.g. Osteomyelitis and fracture-related infection
- Shortening and deformity in association with generalised bone conditions e.g. Rickets, Paget’s, and Osteopetrosis
- Fracture non-union and impaired fracture healing following trauma
- Post traumatic limb deformity
