Surgeons pioneer new technique to lengthen boy's leg in UK first

Alder Hey surgeons used a surface-mounted magnetic lengthening nail to add 3cm to nine-year-old Alfie Phillips's thigh bone, reported as the first UK use of this method; the hospital has since treated three more children and other centres have shown interest.

Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool reports it has used a surface-mounted, motorised telescopic nail to lengthen the thigh bone of nine-year-old Alfie Phillips, the first time this specific technique has been used in the UK. Alfie has fibular hemimelia, a rare condition that left his right leg shorter, and the procedure was adapted from methods developed in the United States. The team says the internal surface-mounted device avoids some risks associated with external fixators. Alfie returned to normal activity and plays basketball, while Alder Hey has gone on to perform the technique on additional children and has been contacted by other centres. Key details: - Patient and condition: Alfie Phillips, aged nine, born with fibular hemimelia, a condition reported to affect fewer than one in 40,000 births. - Technique used: A motorised telescopic nail was placed alongside the femur and lengthened using an external magnetic device applied about three times daily, at roughly 1mm per day, producing about 3cm of length. - Timeline and recovery: The implant surgery took place in March 2025; Alfie spent less than a week in hospital, began lengthening after about a week, the lengthening phase lasted around six weeks, and the nail was removed about three to four months after the operation with ongoing physiotherapy during that period. - Comparison to previous option: Before referral to Alder Hey, the main option for children was an external fixator attached by pins or wires, which the hospital described as carrying risks such as pin-site infection, pain and scarring. - Wider interest: Alder Hey has since performed the method on three other children and said specialists at other hospitals in England have expressed interest in introducing the technique. Summary: The hospital reports the procedure offered an alternative to external fixators and that Alfie recovered quickly and returned to normal activities. Alder Hey has used the technique on additional patients and other centres have contacted the team about adopting it. Further treatment for Alfie, such as possible future lengthening of the shin, was mentioned by clinicians as a possibility.