Major Leg Surgery
 

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum so sorry if I've done something wrong here. I'm looking at starting my CPL soon but am wondering if I might run into some trouble with my class 1 medical.

When I was 12, I broke right my leg on a park bench, causing my right leg to stop growing. Now I have a leg length discrepancy of around 3 inches. If I was to do leg lengthening to make my legs equal length, would that by any chance prevent me from obtaining my medical? I can already make my legs equal length with shoe lifts but it's not ideal.

Thanks for your help,

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I don't see an issue. Worst case, you may need a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) to prove no limitations. I would consult AOPA medical or an AME though. Forum advice is worth what you pay for it.


Good luck!

Wow thanks for the quick reply. What a relief... I thought there was a good chance I would run into some trouble. I have my medical in a month, so I guess I'll ask there before I do the surgery. Thanks!

It's actually not that much of a problem, as long as you get a decent result. They'll even give you a SODA for amputations, if they don't interfere with your ability to fly safely.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...ch/item42/amd/

Ok great. Surgery should be fine so I guess there's not that much to worry about.

Definitely talk to AOPA and your AME. I would not go with advice on this forum alone. Good luck to you!

Never a bad idea to get a second opinion - especially since you will be seeing your AME in a month anyway - but in this case they are going to tell you the same thing:

https://www.aopa.org/go-fly/medical-...tal-conditions

In fact, with a good result from surgery your AME will almost certainly just annotate the surgical scars in your physical and issue his/herself, without even the need for a SODA. The discharge summary from your surgery and your last PT report showing range of motion prior to discharge from treatment will save the AME a lot of effort though and grease the whole thing from the Federal Air Surgeon's point of view.

I mean really, the reason you are having the surgery is that you have an impediment that you are CORRECTING. If they are letting you fly now, do you seriously think they will ground you after you are IMPROVED?

Get the second opinion, sure, but don't lose any sleep worrying about it before you do talk to them. Make sure you have a competent orthopedic surgeon who has done a reasonable number of lengthening procedures and then press on.