Quality of Life Evaluation Following Limb Lengthening Surgery in Patients with Achondroplasia

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life following limb lengthening surgery in patients with achondroplasia. The complications and different lengthening techniques have and effects on mid-term results were also investigated.

We performed a retrospective, multicenter study by evaluating the records of patients with achondroplasia operated in our clinic between 1999 and 2014 for limb lengthening with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. Forty nine patients were underwent bilateral lower limb lengthening surgery and 21 of 49 patients underwent bilateral humerus lengthening surgery. Patients were evaluated by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Generic Core Scales to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children. Twenty patients with achondroplasia who had no lengthening surgery history were also evaluated with the PedsQL score as the control group.

The average age at the time of first surgery was 6.17 years. The average follow-up period was 100.2 months. The average age at the time of study 14.70 ± 2.44 (11-18) years. There were significant differences between the patients with humeral lengthening and patients who did not undergo humeral lengthening in all scores. Transient complications had minimal effects on scores. Although all scores in the operated group were higher than non-operated patients with achondroplasia, there were no significant differences.

Quality of life was significantly improved as a result of humerus lengthening surgery of patients with achondroplasia, despite minor complications compared with Lower limb lengthening surgery.

Level III, case control study.