A bone or limb may be lengthened by cutting the bone and stretching it slowly. Over time the body fills in the bone and it heals into a longer bone. Usually an external fixator or a magnetic rod inside the bone is used to lengthen the bone.
![Figure](/OrthoKids/media/Images/Dear%20Doctor/lengthening_1.jpg?ext=.jpg)
Figure: An external fixator is used to help lengthen a short toe on the right foo