Fitbone
FITBONE Intramedullary Lengthening System
Fully-implanted motorized nail powered by an external radiofrequency transmitter — a leading internal alternative to PRECICE, widely used in Germany and Turkey.
How it works
FITBONE is a fully implanted, motorized intramedullary nail. Unlike the magnet-driven PRECICE, it uses a subcutaneous induction coil and an external radiofrequency transmitter pressed against the skin to power an internal electric motor that distracts the bone about 1 mm per day. The patient controls distraction sessions at home. It was developed in Germany (originally Wittenstein) and is now made by Orthofix, which received FDA 510(k) clearance for the FITBONE transport and lengthening system. The motor lengthens in one direction only (no compression). The nail and receiver are removed after consolidation.
At a glance
- Typical gain
- 5–8 cm
- Total recovery
- 12–24 weeks
- Distraction sites
- femur, tibia
- External hardware
- No
- Manufacturer
- Orthofix (originally Wittenstein, Germany); FDA 510(k) cleared
- Status
- Actively used
What this means for a patient
- ●Fully internal — no external frame or pin-site care
- ●Patient-controlled distraction at home
- ●Radiofrequency-powered motor (distinct from magnetic systems)
- ●Long clinical track record in Europe; among the most-used internal nails in Turkey
Trade-offs and risks
- ●High implant cost
- ●Motor lengthens in one direction only (no compression)
- ●External transmitter must sit within ~1 cm of the internal coil
- ●Requires a second surgery for removal after consolidation
18 verified clinics offering Fitbone
Esencan International Hospital
Dr. Yüksel Yurttaş, MD, Prof. Dr.
International Clinics
Dr. Humam Baki, MD
ZEM-Germany
Dr. Rainer Baumgart, Prof. Dr. Dr. med.
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Dr. Peter R. Calder
Centre for Advanced Orthopaedics
Dr. Sarbjit Singh, MBBS (Singapore); FRCS (Edinburgh); FRCS (Glasgow); FAMS (Orthopaedics); Fellowship in Paediatric Orthopaedics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (1991); Founding President, ASAMI ASEAN; Adjunct Professor, SIM University (2007–2009)
Clínica CEMTRO
Dr. Javier Alonso Hernández, MD Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1992); Specialist in Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology (2001); trained with Dr. John Herzenberg (PRECICE/FITBONE), Rubin Institute, Baltimore (2016); President, XVI SEFEx-CR National Congress (2018)
Reading on Fitbone
- Height Surgery (Limb Lengthening): The Complete, Honest 2026 Guide
A sourced, no-hype guide to limb lengthening: do you really need it, the psychology to settle first, methods, costs, risks, and choosing a clinic.
This page is editorial reporting, not medical advice. Every patient anatomy is different — technique selection requires in-person consultation with a qualified surgeon.