Bilateral femoral shortening for unaccepted tallness

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1992 May;74(3):406-8. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.74B3.1587889.

Abstract

We performed bilateral femoral shortening operations on 15 skeletally mature patients (11 women and four men). Their mean height pre-operatively was 193.5 cm and they were shortened by 5 to 9 cm. We used a subtrochanteric Z-osteotomy with an AO condylar plate in 11 patients, and mid-diaphyseal osteotomy with an intramedullary locking nail in four. After an average follow-up of 8.1 years, isokinetic muscle testing showed that muscle strength was reduced bilaterally in five patients. The strength ratio between hamstrings and quadriceps muscles was normal in all those treated by subtrochanteric shortening; in those shortened at the mid-shaft the quadriceps was relatively weaker. The result was rated as excellent by 11 patients, very good by three, and good by one.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Height*
  • Bone Nails
  • Bone Plates
  • Female
  • Femur / surgery*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Growth Disorders / psychology
  • Growth Disorders / surgery*
  • Hip Joint / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Osteotomy / methods*
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Stress, Psychological