The duration of your lengthening procedure depends upon how much length you need and the level of your compliance with the lengthening exercises. You should be seen by your surgeon every two weeks during the Distraction Phase. At each visit, he should take an x-ray of your leg and evaluate your soft tissues (skin, nerves and muscles) for tightness. A download of the monitor measurements will also be done in the office, so you need to bring the monitor with you to each office visit.

A 2.5 cm, or one inch length discrepancy, should take only about one month if you are able to attain one mm per day of lengthening. A maximum of 8 cm or about three inches is generally about the maximum length that can be attained with a given procedure. At that point, the soft tissues become stretched tight and need some time to adapt before additional length can be attained. If additional length is needed, another procedure could be done after about one year.

You, the patient, are in control of the lengthening process. If you rotate your knee/ankle sufficiently to obtain at least one mm per day, your lengthening should occur smoothly. The monitor will help you know if you are distracting too fast or too slowly. If you are achieving too much lengthening, you should restrict your activities. Lengthening at too fast a rate can stretch the soft tissues tight and cause pain. If you are not achieving one mm per day, you should increase your activity. If your lengthening rate is too slow, there is the possibility that the bone will harden before you complete the full lengthening process. If this should occur, it might be necessary to perform an additional surgery to loosen the regenerate, or at worst, prevent you from reaching your goal length. You will need to remain off the limb using your crutches and performing only toe-touch weight-bearing at no more than 50 lbs/22.7 kg. Your leg will be very weak at the place where the callus is forming the regenerate until the regenerate starts to harden into bone. Excessive forces (running, jumping, or excessive weight) could cause the device to bend at that point.

You will need to attend office visits with your surgeon at two-week intervals so he can track your distraction progress with x-rays as well as with the monitor. He will assess your soft tissues and observe your leg for any possible problems, such as contracture (muscle tightness causing limb angulation) or thin, tight tissues. You will need to bring the monitor with you to your visit as well.