Acceleration of linear growth following intestinal resection for Crohn disease

Twelve patients with Crohn disease aged from 11.3 to 17.1 years, underwent intestinal resection. Eight were prepubertal or in early puberty and 4 in mid or late puberty. Pre-operative assessment included acceleration and compression barium studies and total colonoscopy. In six patients the surgical indication was failure of medical management and in six intestinal obstruction. All but one were in remission 12 months after surgery. Height velocities in the eight pre and early pubertal patients increased dramatically during 6- and 12-month post operative measurement periods compared with preoperative growth. Height velocities in the mid and late pubertal patients showed much less increase. In selected patients, surgical treatment can induce remission resulting in catch-up growth and sustained growth acceleration. In prepubertal and early pubertal patients surgery is likely to improve final adult height.