Duke Health
Led by Dr. Malcolm DeBaun, MD. Orthopaedic trauma; adult limb lengthening and deformity correction
No photos yet
We have no photographs of Duke Health. If you work here you can add 2 free, or publish a full profile with photos, video and a surgeon interview.
About Duke Health
Duke University Medical Center's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in Durham, North Carolina, handles leg length discrepancy and lower limb deformity through separate adult and paediatric clinics. Malcolm DeBaun, MD, covers orthopaedic trauma and adult limb lengthening and deformity correction; Robert Douglas Fitch, MD, a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon, lists limb lengthening and external fixation among his research interests; and Kathleen Rickert-Madden, MD, FAAOS, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatric Orthopaedics, joined in January 2026 from Central Texas Pediatric Orthopedics, where she was the designated limb lengthening surgeon. All three are Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society members.
Adult and paediatric work is reconstructive and split across clinics with no unified limb lengthening brand, so ask which clinic handles your case. No device is named publicly, and no price, international patient services or review data are published.
Adult and paediatric, reconstructive, but split across separate clinics with no unified limb lengthening brand. No device is named publicly. Added 2026-08-12 in the US roster expansion; provenance in docs/research/us-expansion-2026-08/.
Why we listed this clinic
Dr DeBaun and Dr Fitch are both LLRS members; Dr Fitch's research interests include limb lengthening and external fixation. Dr Rickert-Madden, also an LLRS member and formerly the designated limb lengthening surgeon at Central Texas Pediatric Orthopedics, joined Duke in January 2026. Dr. Fitch's status has changed: he became Associate Professor Emeritus of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2024 (still listed as an active pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and Associate Professor in Pediatrics), which is worth flagging given his central role in the prior record. Dr. Rickert-Madden's Duke residency (2011-2016) is now confirmed directly, along with her prior post at Central Texas Pediatric Orthopedics/UT Austin as its designated limb-lengthening surgeon before returning to Duke.
Surgeons
- Dr. Malcolm DeBaun, MDOrthopaedic trauma; adult limb lengthening and deformity correctionView profile →
- Dr. Kathleen Rickert-Madden, MD, FAAOSAssociate Clinical Professor of Pediatric OrthopaedicsView profile →
Compare with every other leg lengthening surgeon in the directory.
Common questions about Duke Health
Answers are built from this clinic's verified record — not from the clinic's marketing.
How do patients rate Duke Health?
Across independent platforms Duke Health holds Google 2.2/5 (11 reviews). We show each platform separately rather than blending them into one score; figures were last checked 2026-09-11. Read the reviews themselves, not just the number — limb lengthening reviews cluster at the extremes.
How much does limb lengthening cost at Duke Health?
Duke Health does not publish a price, and we do not invent one. Comparable USA clinics in this directory range widely by method; use the cost estimator or contact the clinic for a written quote before travelling.
Which limb lengthening methods does Duke Health offer?
Duke Health has not publicly listed which lengthening device it uses. Ask directly — the device (internal nail vs external frame) changes cost, recovery and risk profile.
What does recovery look like after surgery at Duke Health?
Distraction runs at roughly 1 mm per day for 4–8 weeks, consolidation takes another 3–6 months while the new bone hardens, and physiotherapy-led return to full activity is usually 6–12 months from surgery. The clinic has not published which device it uses, and the recovery curve depends on it — internal nails and external frames differ materially.
Does Duke Health treat international patients?
Duke Health did not explicitly advertise international-patient services on its website when we verified it. Consultation languages on record: English. Confirm travel logistics, translation and follow-up arrangements directly before booking.
How was Duke Health verified for this directory?
Duke Health is listed at Tier 2 — surgeon name, address and methods are verified, but full outcome and regulatory review is not yet complete. We hold 6 source URLs for this entry. Last verified 2026-09-11. The clinic cannot pay to change its tier, ranking or reviews; paid options only affect presentation and are always labelled.
Where is Duke Health and where are operations performed?
Duke Health is in Durham, North Carolina, USA. Hospital affiliation on record: Duke University Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 200 Trent Dr, Durham NC 27710
How we verified this clinic
- Tier
- Tier 2 — verified basics
- Last verified
- 2 days ago
- Hospital affiliation
- Duke University Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 200 Trent Dr, Durham NC 27710
- Languages at consultation
- English
Verification covers: named surgeon credentials, hospital affiliation, methods offered, public-facing website, and regulatory status. We re-verify quarterly. If a clinic fails a re-verification, we add an editorial note or demote its tier — we do not quietly remove it.
Independence: this clinic cannot pay to change its ranking, Directory Score, tier, or reviews. Paid options affect presentation only and are always labeled. We take no commission and charge no per-patient fee. Editorial policy.
This directory is editorial. It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a substitute for consultation with a qualified surgeon. Pricing and availability change — always verify directly with the clinic before making decisions.