# Developing microwave epiphysiodesis to correct limb length discrepancies

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2024 · $610,056

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
This project addresses a need for less morbid alternatives to surgical drilling of growth plates in the treatment
of limb length discrepancies. Surgical approaches currently require 6 weeks of recovery before weight bearing,
which takes a physical and psychological toll on pediatric patients. Surgery has also been associated with
complications such as incomplete growth arrest, angular deformity, bleeding, and infection. We hypothesize
that microwave ablation – a technology already used for treating malignant and benign tumors throughout the
body, including in bones – can be used to disrupt the growth plate with fewer complications and faster return to
baseline activity. Preliminary data demonstrates the feasibility delivering microwave energy to create heating in
the growth plate when using clinical microwave tumor ablation systems in porcine tibias. This project will focus
on developing more optimal devices and techniques for growth plate ablation. Directional antennas will be
developed that target microwave energy to the growth plate while minimizing collateral damage. Dynamic
positioning and multi-applicator techniques will be used to further refine energy delivery to ensure complete
and uniform growth arrest. Finally, the safety and efficacy of the optimized techniques will be compared against
the gold-standard of surgical drilling in distal femur, proximal tibia, and fibula. If successful, these
developments and studies will form the basis for a novel and exciting treatment for limb length discrepancy in
children.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10934379
- **Project number:** 5R01AR082375-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Christopher L Brace
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $610,056
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-25 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10934379

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10934379, Developing microwave epiphysiodesis to correct limb length discrepancies (5R01AR082375-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10934379. Licensed CC0.

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