Dr. Axel Becker is a specialist in leg lengthening, a specialist in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, a specialist in orthopedics and trauma surgery and carries out cosmetic leg lengthening in his special clinic in Freiburg. For this purpose – only here – a minimally invasive leg lengthening method BETZBONE®, developed by him and unique in the world, is used.
Read what Dr. Becker says about the daily clicking routine for leg lengthening.
Dr. Becker, you currently have a patient with you who is performing the daily clicking process. For outsiders: How should I imagine this – leg lengthening with a click?
Dr. med. A. Becker
Admittedly, that sounds strange. But in principle it’s very simple. Our patient – Nico – had an extension implant implanted in his femur 14 weeks ago and has currently gained 8.5 cm in height. This implant in the bone extends via a rotation mechanism and thus ensures callus distraction. (Callus is the substance between the severed bone ends. A chewing gum-like substance that can be pulled apart before the bone ends grow back together). The patient initiates this rotation himself through special leg movements. Two leg movements are necessary for a click. A movement of the lower leg 15 degrees to the left and a movement of the lower leg 15 degrees to the right.
Ok, and why do we talk about “clicks”?
Dr. med. A. Becker
Because you can hear the click, the sound that the mechanism makes. You will hear a clicking noise that you know when, for example, B. something clicks into place. Ah, ok, I just heard that. Quite loud actually.
Dr. med. A. Becker
True. This is due to muscle tension. The higher the muscle tension, the louder the clicking sound. The less muscle tension, the quieter the clicking sound.
And the patient has to do that every day?
Dr. med. A. Becker
Yeah right. Until the desired extension is achieved. Clicking should be done every day, preferably first thing in the morning. At the beginning it’s around 15 clicks, later you reduce it to around 10-12 clicks. Each click extends exactly 0.052 mm. So you can say that you lengthen by one mm every day. Stretching exercises are very important after clicking. These reduce the muscle tension that lengthening causes. This means that while patients may spend 15 to 20 minutes clicking, stretching exercises take much longer. That can be a good 5-6 hours a day that need to be planned into the day. Releasing and reducing muscle tension is essential for the lengthening process, the patient’s well-being and for a good night’s sleep.
