L.M. (Lea) Kessling

I am a PhD candidate in pediatric orthopaedic surgery with a clinical and research focus on rare upper and lower limb deformities in children. My research interests include limb lengthening, post-traumatic cubitus varus, congenital radioulnar synostosis, and the evaluation of surgical outcomes using imaging techniques and patient-reported outcome measures. A key goal of my work is to improve evidence-based decision-making in conditions with inherently small patient populations.

I started my PhD on 1 September 2025 and currently work alongside my research as an ANIOS in orthopaedics. Prior to this, I worked as an ANIOS in orthopaedics in Breda, and before that in Germany, my country of origin, where I conducted my doctoral thesis in the field of foot and ankle surgery.

My PhD combines clinical studies, methodological research, and translational projects, including algorithm development, sonographic assessment of bone regeneration, and cross-cultural adaptation of quality-of-life questionnaires. Working in a tertiary referral center has allowed me to contribute to both original research and systematic reviews. Through this work, I aim to strengthen scientific rigor and improve long-term functional outcomes for children with complex orthopaedic conditions.

STRETCH -Sonographic tissue evaluation of bone regenerate in children undergoing limb lengthening

ALIGN- Algorithm for upper Limb deformIty correction in GrowiNg children