Online Information Regarding Elective Lower Limb Lengthening for Stature Enhancement: Quality, Variability, and Trends

Context: Patients seeking elective surgery for stature lengthening, a controversial topic, often rely on online searches for medical information. Aims: This study investigates the quality and variability of online information regarding limb lengthening to increase stature and examines trends in related online searches. Settings and Design: A systematic web search was conducted to identify websites offering cosmetic limb lengthening. An extraction template was used to summarize each eligible website. Materials and Methods: The quality and reliability of each site was assessed using the DISCERN instrument, a validated tool for assessing the quality of consumer health information across 16 domains with scores ranging from 16 (least favorable) to 80 (most favorable). Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics were used for this study. Results: The search found 36 websites offering cosmetic limb lengthening. The United States (14) and Turkey (7) had the highest number of websites. The mean total DISCERN score was 46.5 (Range: 26.5–63). Most websites mentioned surgical complications (89%) and rehabilitation requirements (81%), but fewer reported costs (47%). From January 2016 to March 2024, search terms such as “limb lengthening,” “height lengthening,” and “taller surgery” increased by 2.59, 2.67, and 1.83-fold, respectively. Conclusions: There is variability in the quality, reliability, and content of online information about limb lengthening for stature enhancement. Consensus guidelines from professional organizations may improve the public-facing online content available to individuals seeking cosmetic limb lengthening.