ISKD
Intramedullary skeletal kinetic distractor
In 2001, the "Intramedullary
skeletal kinetic distractor" (ISKD) was introduced, allowing lengthening to take
place internally, thereby drastically reducing the risk of infections and
scarring. The ISKD device was designed by Dr. J. Dean Cole, MD of Orlando, FL. A
great way to grow taller actually.
With ISKD, a telescopic rod that can be gradually extended by knee or ankle rotations is implanted into the bone. Lengthening is monitored by a hand-held external magnetic sensor that tracks the rotation of an internal magnet on a daily basis.
ISKD requires a physical leg movement to "click" the device into lengthening. In this method, there is no risk of accidentally over-stretching the bone due to the lengthener being preset to the desired fully extended length.
While there is some pain associated with the immediate post-op lengthening, the initial lengthening procedure is not to begin until one week after surgery. Furthermore, there is no noticeable "click" to the patient as there is less than nine degrees of rotation of the two bone segments in relation to one another.
