%0 Journal Article
%T Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Epiphysiodesis Operation around the Knee to Reduce Adult Height in Extremely Tall Adolescent Girls and Boys
%A Emelie Benyi
%A Maria Berner
%A Inger Bjernekull
%A Anders Boman
%A Dionisios Chrysis
%A Ola Nilsson
%A Anne Waehre
%A Henrik Wehtje
%A Lars S£¿vendahl
%J International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology
%D 2010
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1155/2010/740629
%X In Sweden, a common definition of extreme tall stature is an adult height exceeding 200£¿cm for boys and 185£¿cm for girls corresponding to approximately 3£¿SD above the mean. Tall stature is most often caused by genetic factors (constitutional tall stature). However, an underlying disorder must always be considered in tall individuals as many of them need special medical attention. These include homocysteinuria, growth hormone excess, and various syndromes such as Klinefelter, Sotos, Marfan, and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome [1, 2].Extreme tall stature is a common reason for referral to pediatric endocrinology centers in northern European countries. Patients and their families often express a strong desire for intervention aiming to reduce adult height. The treatment options for children with extreme tall stature are limited. To reduce final height (FH), boys have been treated with high-dose testosterone and girls with high-dose estradiol [3, 4]. The treatment was introduced already in 1956, but its use has decreased dramatically in the last two decades, possibly due to a change in attitude towards tall stature and concerns of long-term complications [5]. In a meta-analysis study, hormonal treatment was only found to reduce final height if initiated before a bone age of around 14 yrs in both genders [6]. It was suggested that administration of sex steroids after this age causes extra growth instead of growth inhibition.Undesired side effects are commonly reported in patients undergoing hormonal treatment for tall stature. For boys, one of the most common complaints reported is acne. Other documented side effects are weight gain, muscle ache, gynecomastia, hypertrichosis, behavioural changes, and aggressiveness [7, 8]. For girls, side effects include nausea, headache, elevated serum triglycerides, calf cramps, and weight gain [8¨C10]. More serious concerns with the treatment include a possible increased risk of venous thrombosis. Studies have shown changes in coagulation
%U http://www.ijpeonline.com/content/2010/1/740629