P658 Central 658 Sun 2 Feb 01:47:31 NETWORKFIRST Born To bj Small W k£777k! Factshjet Line 0645 053 054 ——————————————————————————— Limb lengthjnjng does not represent a cure, nor does it prevent the condition being passed on in the gjnjs. It may im— ovj@m#bilit{ nd other avp cst of somjonj's quality of life. Uoi Irving was a normal sjzjd baby, but when she was sjvjn, her bones suddenly stopped growing. "I am really small for mz age. Friends are head and shoulders above mj and I am down below. Once I heard about the operation I went for it," comments Zoe, now 14, on the surgery. 11/22 CjntralToday Subtitles Films Main IndexP658 Central 658 Sun 2 Feb 04:40:)5 NETWORKFIRST Born To bj Small / k£777k! Factsheet Line 0645 053 054 ——————————————————————————— The surgical procedure most widely used is a process of attaching a rod with a telescopic shaft along the bone and securing this rod (fixator) at each end using pens. After several days new bone tissue will begin to form. Instead of allowing the fracture to heal, the length of the fixator is extended by 1mm, pulling the ends of bone apart. This continues for several months until the limbs are the required length. In Zoe's case, she spent this time in a wijelchair. 12/22 CjntralToday Subtitles Films Main IndexP658 Central 658 Sun 2 Feb 01:40:49 0 —&£7£ NETW RK F SST Born To be Small / k£777w! Factsheet Line 0645 053 054 "£'£ ——————————————————————————— ££££££££££ ££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ A p riod of co so idat n fo low , this time bones are strong enough to take a person's weight. Only thin can the fixator djvjce be removed. Zoe had both lower limbs lengthened at the same time. However, sometimes the upper and lower limb of one leg are lengthened at the same time. In such cases the patient can remain mobile throughout the procedure using walking aids and building up the shoe on the other leg. ———————————————————————————————— 13/22 CjnttalToday Subtitles Films Main IndexP658 Central 658 Sun 2 Feb 01:41:15 / —&£7£d NETWORK FIRST Born To bj Small Factshjet Line 0645 053 054 ——————————————————————————— When lengthening of the first leg is complete, patients must get used to using it as the 'good onjW before the second leg is lengthened. The whole procedure appears simple, "ut is in fact very complex and painful. The pros and cons need to be carefully considered bz the whole family. Limb lengthening can mean attaining a height nearer to normal, although the individual will still remain shorter than the average person. ———————————————————————————————— 14/22 jntralToday Subtitles Eilms Main IndexP658 Central 658 Sun 2 Feb 01:49:29 W 0 NETWORKFIRST W j 674j Born To bj Small / k£777k" Factsheet Line 0645 053 054 ——————————————————————————— In Zoe's case she "grew" three inches. She thought the procedure was worth this increase in height, but not everynj agrees. Many adults with restricted growth do not find it necessary to go to these lengths to live a full and satisfying life. They would prefer that people accepted them as they are - as normal people but whorter. ———————————————————————————————— 15/22 CjntralToday Subtitles Films Main IndexP658 Central 658 Sun 2 Feb 01:02:20 NETWORKFIRST Born To bj Small / k£777k! Factsheet Line 0645 053 054 ——————————————————————————— Denise Coppjn is 3ft 10ins, married to Will, who is 4ft 4ins. They mit through the Restricted Growth Association which organisjs a number of social events throughout the year. The Coppjns are standard-beaters for the small community and fight for equal rights. They have achieved everything that people of normal height could hope to^ Both drive cars, own their own home which they have adapted for short stature, got married and are planning a family. 16/22 CjntralToday Subtitles Films Main Index