Orthopedics: Cutting Her Down to Size

Ann Rowston, 20, is a lanky English lass who had been unhappy ever since adolescence, and with good reason. By some quirk of nature, her pituitary gland failed to shut down its output of growth hormone as she matured, and she kept on growing to a towering 6 ft. 7 in. "I used to feel as if I had two heads," says Ann. "The children were the worst to face. They'd shout 'Lanky!' and 'What's the weather like up there?' and that sort of thing. I wanted to hide in shame."

Last week, eager to face the world for a...