Reduction of excessive height in boys by bilateral percutaneous epiphysiodesis around the knee

In this study, the results of percutaneous epiphysiodesis as a surgical method to decrease final height is described in 15 boys with a predicted final height of more than 205 cm. A total of 17 boys with a height prediction between 195 and 209 cm without treatment were included as controls. The study period was from 1995–2002 and patients were followed for a mean period of 3.9 years (range 2.3–6.5 years) after surgery; controls were followed for 8.3 years (range 2.0–12.1 years). Final height in the treated boys was 203.6 cm (range 195.5–214.5 cm) compared to the predicted height of 210.6 cm (range 205.7–222.7 cm). The reduction in final height versus the predicted height was 7 cm and ranged between 1.2 and 13.8 cm. Final height in the control boys was 199.9 cm (range 191.3–206.7 cm). No significant side-effects of epiphysiodesis were observed. Besides final height reduction, epiphysiodesis resulted in normalisation of body proportions, expressed as the subischial leg length/sitting height ratio. This ratio in the operated patients at final height was 0.96 (range 0.90–1.01) and in the controls 0.94 (range 0.88–1.03). Conclusion: Epiphysiodesis can be advised as a method to decrease final height in boys with predicted tall stature. An additional advantage of this method is a normalisation of body proportions.