Safety and Efficacy of Bilateral Epiphysiodesis Surgery to Reduce Final Height in Extremely Tall Adolescents: A Follow-Up Study
Authors' conclusion
This study suggests that bilateral epiphysiodesis is an efficient and safe method to reduce final height in extremely tall adolescent girls and boys. The achieved height reduction was higher in boys and when performed at an earlier bone age. Importantly, no serious side effects were reported. However, a continued follow-up is still warranted to detect any potential rare complications.
Study context
- Population
- Adolescents with extreme tall stature followed at the Pediatric Endocrine Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm (Sweden), who underwent bilateral epiphysiodesis around the knees
- Participants
- 72 adolescents
- Exposure
- Achieved final height vs final height prediction at time of surgery
- Girlsn = 45
- Boysn = 27
- Outcome
- Reduction of achieved final height vs final height prediction at time of surgery
- Follow-up
- Final height
Methodological detailssingle-centre, follow-up study
- Single-centre
- Follow-up study
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Final height reduction vs predicted final height at surgery
| Group | Value | % reduction | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girls | mean 3.6 ± 0.4 cm | 26.0 ± 2.9% | p < 0.001 |
| Boys | mean 8.6 ± 0.9 cm | 40.5 ± 3.0% | p < 0.001 |
Value
Girlsmean 3.6 ± 0.4 cm
Boysmean 8.6 ± 0.9 cm
% reduction
Girls26.0 ± 2.9%
Boys40.5 ± 3.0%
P
Girlsp < 0.001
Boysp < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| Correlation of absolute height reduction with bone age at surgery · time of surgery | −0.44 | −0.63 |
| P | p < 0.001 | p < 0.001 |
Correlation of absolute height reduction with bone age at surgery · time of surgery
- Negative correlation, stronger in boys than in girls
Body proportions · after surgery
- Body proportions affected in all patients; rather normalized after surgery, as tall individuals typically have relatively long legs
Safety
- No serious complications reported
Original publication
Safety and Efficacy of Bilateral Epiphysiodesis Surgery to Reduce Final Height in Extremely Tall Adolescents: A Follow-Up Study. Horm Res Paediatr. Published 23 February 2024. doi:10.
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