Studies

Our studies

RECONS studies bring together patients, caregivers, clinicians and researchers from more than 20 countries to identify, and agree on, the outcomes that matter most in limb lengthening and reconstruction.

In progress

  • In progress
    Study 1

    Patient Perspectives Study

    What matters most after limb lengthening and reconstruction?

    Focus groups and interviews with patients and caregivers, so the outcomes we measure reflect lived experience, not only what is seen on an X-ray.

    • Qualitative study
    • Denmark · South Korea · South Africa · USA
    Study files →
  • In progress
    Study 2

    International Consensus Study

    Agreeing on the core outcomes, together

    A structured, multi-round Delphi survey in which patients, caregivers, clinicians and researchers rate which outcomes every future study should report.

    • Delphi survey
    • Participants from 20+ countries
    Study files →

Completed

Published work from the network

  1. 2026

    Clinical study

    Defining Postoperative Weight Trends in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Limb Reconstruction Surgery by Distraction Osteogenesis

    Yalcinkaya A, Sepas A, Yong B, Bafor A, Iobst C

    Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 2026

    Describes how body weight changes in children during and after limb reconstruction with distraction osteogenesis.

    Read article ↗

  2. 2026

    Clinical study

    An Assessment of the Preoperative Vitamin D Levels in Patients Undergoing Limb Lengthening Surgery

    Yalcinkaya A, Yong B, Hatfield D, Bafor A, Iobst C

    Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 2026

    Assessed vitamin D levels before limb lengthening surgery, given vitamin D's role in bone health and regeneration.

    Read article ↗

  3. 2025

    Methods study

    Applying machine learning to enhance core outcome set development: automating the data extraction and classification of outcomes

    Yalcinkaya A, Kjelmann KG, Gholinezhad S, Rahbek O, Kold S, Husum H-C

    Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2025;20:977

    Tested whether machine learning can extract and classify outcomes from full-text studies using the COMET taxonomy, to make core outcome set development faster.

    Read article ↗

  4. 2025

    Scoping review

    Measuring more than just centimeters: a scoping review of outcome measures in cosmetic stature lengthening

    Yalcinkaya A, Tirta M, Rahbek O, Jepsen JF, Rathleff MS, Iobst C, Kold S

    Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2025;20:606

    Reviewed 20 studies of cosmetic stature lengthening to see how well their outcomes capture quality of life, function and well-being.

    Read article ↗

  5. 2024

    Scoping review

    Outcomes and outcome measurement instruments in lower-limb lengthening surgery: a scoping review to inform core outcome set development

    Yalcinkaya A, Rahbek O, Tirta M, Jepsen JF, Rathleff MS, Iobst C, Kold S

    Acta Orthopaedica 2024;95:715

    Mapped 2,939 outcomes reported across 149 studies: most measured clinical results, while only 13% captured the impact on patients' lives.

    Read article ↗