PRECICE Max
PRECICE Max Intramedullary Nail
Newest-generation magnetic PRECICE nail — stronger motor, thicker build, higher weight-bearing than PRECICE 2.
How it works
PRECICE Max extends the PRECICE platform with a stronger magnetic motor and a thicker nail (up to 14 mm diameter) that supports higher weight-bearing — up to about 250 lb (113 kg) per leg. It received FDA clearance on December 15, 2023 (for adults, and pediatric femur/tibia over age 12), and the first US surgery was performed at the Paley Institute. It is the current successor generation to PRECICE 2 and the modern replacement for the recalled Stryde; long-term outcome data is still accumulating.
Schematic. Bone geometry and hardware placement are illustrative; consult your surgeon for procedure specifics.
At a glance
- Typical gain
- 5–8 cm
- Total recovery
- 12–24 weeks
- Distraction sites
- femur, tibia
- External hardware
- No
- Manufacturer
- NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics (Globus Medical, since Sept 2023)
- Status
- Actively used
What this means for a patient
- ●Newest generation — stronger magnetic motor and thicker nail
- ●Higher weight-bearing capacity than PRECICE 2 (~250 lb/leg)
- ●Fully internal — no external frame or pin-site care
Trade-offs and risks
- ●Limited long-term data — FDA-cleared December 2023
- ●High implant cost
- ●Requires removal surgery after consolidation
11 verified clinics offering PRECICE Max
Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute
Dr. Dror Paley, MD, FRCSC
LimbplastX Institute
Dr. Kevin Debiparshad, MD, FRCSC
Height Lengthening
Dr. Shahab Mahboubian, DO, MPH
AFA Limb Lengthening
Dr. Mustafa Uysal, MD, Prof. Dr.
Esencan International Hospital
Dr. Yüksel Yurttaş, MD, Prof. Dr.
International Clinics
Dr. Humam Baki, MD
Reading on PRECICE Max
- Femur vs tibia: which bone gets lengthened first?
Femur first is standard for most patients pursuing cosmetic limb lengthening. Why surgeons pick the thigh bone, when the calf wins, and the two-stage gap.
- How much taller can you actually get from limb lengthening surgery?
Realistic gain per surgery is 6-8 cm in the femur, 5-7 cm in the tibia. Two-stage patients reach 13-16 cm. Numbers, methods, and the 10-inch myth.
- Internal nail vs external fixator: the fundamental choice in limb lengthening
Internal nail (PRECICE) vs external fixator (Ilizarov) vs hybrid (LON). Costs, complications, scars, and when each is the right call.
- Is limb lengthening surgery safe in 2026?
Limb lengthening runs a 30-45% any-complication and 5-15% serious rate across published cosmetic series. Safety is more surgeon-dependent than method choice.
- Can things go wrong years after limb lengthening surgery?
Late limb lengthening complications: refracture, nerve pain, joint stiffness. Most correlate with early-recovery shortcuts, not the surgery itself.
- Is there an age limit for limb lengthening? Honest numbers for 18 to 60.
Typical age window for cosmetic limb lengthening is 18-45. Growth plates must be closed. Bone healing slows after 35. There is no absolute upper limit.
- How much does limb lengthening surgery cost in 2026?
Limb lengthening costs $18,000 in India and $160,000 in the US. Same surgery. Country-by-country breakdown from 44 verified clinics.
- Hidden costs after limb lengthening surgery: the 10-item checklist
Implant removal, lost wages, physio, complications. The 10 expenses the headline price hides. Real numbers from 44 verified clinics.
- Does health insurance cover limb lengthening surgery?
Cosmetic limb lengthening: never covered. Congenital LLD or trauma: often covered in EU/UK/some US plans. Country-by-country rules with CPT codes.
- Will scars be visible after limb lengthening? A method-by-method honest answer.
PRECICE leaves 2 small linear scars per leg. LON adds 6-10 pin-site dots. Ilizarov leaves 8-16 pin marks. Healing timelines, fade, and what to ask.
- PRECICE 2 vs LON: which limb lengthening method is actually better?
Side-by-side: PRECICE 2 vs LON for limb lengthening. Cost ($50–160k vs $22–45k), recovery, complications, scars. Which to pick.
- The PRECICE Stryde recall, explained — and what it means in 2026
FDA Class I recall of the PRECICE Stryde nail (April 2021). Timeline, why it happened, monitoring protocol, and 5 questions to ask any clinic.
This page is editorial reporting, not medical advice. Every patient anatomy is different — technique selection requires in-person consultation with a qualified surgeon.