7cm Tibias with Salamehfix with dr Ghassan Salameh

Pre-Surgery
Started this journey from a height of 165 cm, I did lengthening because in Hungary I felt very short. I researched for years before deciding to do this. I did 7cm on my tibias with Salamehfix in Germany last year. I was excited and optimistic, I originally wanted to do 9cm
But decided to stop after 7cm as I didn’t want to risk Ballerina foot.

Month 1: Surgery went as planned. I was briefed about the aftercare and the adjustments I would need to make. The first few days post-surgery were tough, with pain and discomfort being constant but the pain was manageable, lots of drugs 😂

Month 2-4: Adjustment and Life on Crutches
The daily routine of adjusting the Salamehfix screws was daunting at first, but soon became second nature. While I was lengthening I was on crutches most of time, around the house I would walk without crutches but I didn’t want to risk anything so I used crutches most of time. I was able to hide the externals with my pants.

I'm also going to lengthen my tibias for about 7.5 cm with dr. Bagirov in Azerbaijan. He uses modified, compact Ilizarov frames which can be hidden in wide pants easily.

Have you never got ballerina foot during the lengthening? 7 cm is considered above the safe limit for tibia and I wonder if and how it's possible to avoid ballerina foot up until 3 inches.

Have you done pure external, i.e. without LON/LATN? How is your bone alignment after the distraction? Are they straight? How long did it take to distract 7 cm?

https://imgur.com/a/S5lRizq

I didn't get ballerina foot because i did physio, but i also walked alot, i probably would of got ballerina foot if i had gone to my goal of 9cm

It took me 3.5 months, yes my lignment is good, i feel back to normal now

https://imgur.com/a/kU3me4I
https://imgur.com/a/cL4O6FR
https://imgur.com/a/qji1tBB
https://imgur.com/a/7Ln6blg
https://imgur.com/a/JBhMRg0
https://imgur.com/a/yPwv3BI
https://imgur.com/a/9vtNg1J

In total, how many months will you be in those frames starting from the surgery date?

Your proportions between femur and tibia look great after 7 cm. I guess I'll look the same as you after 3 inch tibia. In no way I can do femurs first as I'll look odd because I have short tibia to begin with.

Month 5: First Steps without Crutches
Reaching the fifth month was a milestone! I began The first steps without crutches were exhilarating but painful.

Month 6-10: Gaining Independence
Gradual improvement in walking pattern and endurance marked these months. Regular physiotherapy and exercises strengthened my legs. By the tenth month, I was walking more naturally, although still with external fixators.

Month 10-11
I was finally able to get my externals removed

until today, i feel normal, its amazing to see the world from a different height, i only told my girlfriend and parents about lengthening, some friends have noticed and i just brushed it off, am thinking of going back and doing femurs. with femurs i would be able to take externals off in 4 months and just have internal nail inside, but for tibias it wasnt recommended, dr salameh focused more on deformities than CLL, but i met 2 other patients when i was there,

i had frames for 10 months but could hide them

This is doctors whatsapp +491734001615