Orthopedic Interventions and Surgical Care
As your child grows, their care team will monitor their development. They may do this by measuring:
- Body proportions
- Growth speed
- Sleep
- Breathing
- Learning
- Joint function
- Mobility
- Pain
Your child’s providers may recommend surgery if they have complications that affect movement and quality of life. “Fortunately, many patients with hypochondroplasia won’t need orthopedic surgery,” says Lombardo.
“Surgery is considered when there is a specific functional or structural problem,” says Yang, who gives these examples.
- Severe bowing of the legs
- Leg misalignment
- Uncontrolled pain
- Trouble walking
- Lower endurance
- Worsening spinal curves
- Hip or knee problems
- Neurological symptoms from spinal stenosis (like pain, numbness, tingling, and bowel or bladder changes)
Managing Bowed Legs
Bowed legs (knees that curve outward) in hypochondroplasia are usually mild, says Lombardo. Your child’s doctor will monitor their bowing as they grow.
“If the degree or severity of bowing is significant, a procedure such as guided growth can be used to help correct this as the child grows,” says Lombardo.
During this surgery, your child’s surgeon places a small metal plate and two screws on one side of the growth plate through a small incision on the affected side, says Lombardo. “This slows down growth on that side while the other side keeps growing normally.”
Over about 12 months, the bowing straightens out, and they can have the plate removed, she says.
Spine Surgery
When the spine curves too much, back bones can pinch nerves and cause symptoms like pain, numbness, and weakness. Physical therapy can improve these symptoms.
If your child has severe symptoms that affect their daily life, their providers may recommend surgery to relieve pressure on the nerves.
Limb‐Lengthening Surgery
Limb-lengthening surgery can increase limb length, adult height, and reach, says Yang. “But it requires a long commitment: staged surgery or procedures, intensive rehabilitation, and careful management of risks.”
This surgical option is uncommon for hypochondroplasia and is usually reserved for people with a severe difference in leg length or trouble using their arms, says Lombardo.
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