Abstract
Our aim is to evaluate life quality in patients with achondroplasia after lengthening.
We examined 17 patients (11 men and 6 women) who finished the complete lengthening process in the 3 segments (tibia, femur, humerus) more than 3 years ago. Mean age 30.35 years(17–44). And a final height of 152.3cm (140.4–169) with an increase in the size of the tibia of 15.38cm, femur 14.91cm and humerus 9.91cm
Life quality is assessed by the SF.36 test and a specific questionnaire for low size people.
The results show that the mental health component (52.2) and physical component (52.8) are similar to those of general American population. There is also a statistical correlation between the final height and better results on the Mental Health questions of SF.36 (p=0.013) and the psychological questions of the specific questionnaire (p=0.045).
Achondroplasic patients after lengthening have a standard life quality and the increase of their height improves the mental health aspects of life quality.
