Is Distraction Lengthening A Good Technique for Shoulder Widening?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I hav read the article entitled ‘Clavicle Lengthening by Distraction Osteogenesis for Congenital Clavicular Hypoplasia: Case Series and Description of Technique in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery from 2013. How do you think this applies to aesthetic shoulder widening surgery for men?

A:  I am very familiar with that article which has four problems from my perspective:

   a) Uses an external distraction technique so the scarring would not be good for an aesthetic shoulder widening patient.

b) Those patients treated had congenital shoulder narrowing so their tolerance for scarring is much different than yours would be. They are also pediatric patients in a national health system so they have no room to complain about their care.

c) Plate fixation was still needed in half the patients particularly those with longer distraction lengths.

d) Distraction periods were as along as 6 to 9 months….long time to have an ex fix device in place.

In other words old style external distraction devices are just not suited for the aesthetic patient. I would do the currect sagittal split lengthening approach despite its issues before I would ever do that distraction technique.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon