• ThisIsNotHim@sopuli.xyz
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    5 days ago

    To follow the thread of tangentially related concepts:

    The Ilizarov apparatus (caution NSFL). The leg is intentionally broken, then a terrifying cage encourages it to heal in a different size or shape.

    I’m not sure how much it’s used now, but I was presented with it as patient as a potential option about 20 years ago. It was kind of a “please don’t pick this one it’s clearly worse” choice. Thankfully they’d done about a decade of prep work to enable me to pick the less extreme option.

    • RaoulDook@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      The singer / guitarist from Weezer had his legs broken and extended to become taller. Rivers Cuomo was his name. It still is too.

      • ThisIsNotHim@sopuli.xyz
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        5 days ago

        I’d be very surprised if it was to become taller. I’d have to watch the clip again, but I only recall seeing the device stretching his pants on one leg.

        I know they’ll do it to fix leg length discrepancies above a certain threshold, especially if the other procedure isn’t viable. I don’t know if there’s other medical reasons to consider it.

        • nomous@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          One of his legs was a bit longer than the other so he got it fixed; my understanding is it’s incredibly painful so not especially common.