Singapore is First in Asia to Use Limb-lengthening Technology for Those Wanting to...( Singapore wa...),Health

Singapore was the first in Asia to carry out the high-tech cosmetic leg lengthening procedure in 2001. Fitbone surgery is presently available in only selected medical centers in Europe and Asia and costs around US $42,000 per telescope nail in Singapore.

Singapore (PRWEB) December 29, 2008 -- It was initially devised as a method of leg lengthening for those with congenital growth abnormalities or trauma to the lower limbs. However, since it was introduced in 2001, Fitbone surgery has without much fanfare, slipped into the realm of cosmetics.

Professor Sarbjit Singh, a Senior Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Singapore's renowned Mount Elizabeth Hospital, part of ParkwayHealth, was the first surgeon in Asia to carry out the high-tech procedure in 2001.

He maintains, "This procedure was meant to be an improvement over the older method of treating the limbs of polio or accident patients. However, seeing that it is much safer and more efficient, with less down-time and low risk of infection, it was inevitable that the good results would attract other uses."

The older Ilizarov method involves fitting the patient's leg within a circular frame using pins and wires pierced into the skin, muscles and bone. Screws attached to the bone are turned 1mm daily. After the growth gap is closed, patients then have to wear the frame until the new bone solidifies. However, since this involves placement of an external device into the skin, there is a high risk of infection at the point of entry.

Fitbone is essentially an advancement over this. De
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