The Nation - News from Feb. 1, 1987

A 13-year-old dwarf had a second leg-lengthening operation, and his doctor predicted that the 3-foot, 8-inch boy will reach a mature 4 feet, 6 inches. Juan Garcia underwent the orthopedic procedure on his right leg in Orlando, Fla., after the first such operation of its kind, performed Dec. 3, caused his left leg to grow three inches. The surgeon, Dr. Charles Price, said he expects that Juan will be able to return to school by fall, and that his legs will have grown six to eight inches by then. Instead of grafting, the procedure severs the main bones of the leg and fastens them in such a way that the natural growth process fills in the gaps.