Betz or Giotikas?

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Please share opinions which doctor I should choose and why.

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Quote from: chicitita on October 09, 2021, 01:11:48 PMPlease share opinions which doctor I should choose and why.

If the options are only these i would choose Betz. Germans makes everything better than most.

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Giotikas does ITB release, while Betz doesn't. Also he offers PT during all lengthening, something Betz doesn't do. I would not go to Betz to be honest, also considering he is more expensive. What I must say, as a current patient in Greece, is that I am a bit tired of Athens, as there are things I don't like about the city. I don't know if same would happen in Germany.

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Bumped to get more answers

Giotikas with Gnail seems great with ITB, full physio, and cheaper.

Seems like giotikas all the way. But maybe I'm missing something? For what reason is betz better than giotikas?

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Quote from: V21 on October 17, 2021, 07:43:03 PMGiotikas does ITB release, while Betz doesn't. Also he offers PT during all lengthening, something Betz doesn't do. I would not go to Betz to be honest, also considering he is more expensive. What I must say, as a current patient in Greece, is that I am a bit tired of Athens, as there are things I don't like about the city. I don't know if same would happen in Germany.

ITB release is questionable - I didn't have, neither all the Betz patients I know, and we are fine. it's not needed.
When I did my LL Betz did have physiotherapists that were working with him for years - Peter Woll and the physios at Vitalis, next to the Park Hotel. They were all great.

Betz is a great choice for femur - probably the best one now that Stryde is out.
For tibia, not so sure.

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Itb not being necessary makes him better than giotika? Sorry I didn't get what you mean. Not trolling.

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I did my tibias with Giotikas, currently doing femurs with Betz. Personally, I think Betz is a much better choice. He’s a bit expensive but you get what you pay for! Keep in my mind that Betz has been doing this for a over a decade while Giotikas is brand new to mechanical nails (G-nail, Betzbone etc.) Besides, I hated living in Athens for three months - it’s a sh*t hole. The Mediterraneano hospital in Athens is possibly one of worst hospitals I’ve ever seen - the optics looks good and food is great but the nurses and hospital staff are the worst. I’ve had three surgeries in that hospital and can’t think of anything nice to say except the food. Giotikas is a good surgeon but the whole setup in Greece is below average - if you are used to Western European or American standards of healthcare, you won’t be happy in Greece.

If you decide to stay in Germany for lengthening period, Betz lives 15 min from the area and is available pretty much immediately if things go south for whatever reason. Giotikas lives in UK and visits Athens a few days every month, so if you break a screw, for example, you’ll have to wait until Giotikas is back in Athens next month - good luck with that! I have seen this happen to two patients when I was in Athens. Both of them had to wait for almost a month limping around with broken screws until Giotikas was back in Athens to get it fixed.

Another reason is Betz almost exclusively focused on LL only, while for Giotikas LL is something he does on the side - it’s not his main focus.

The main issue with Betz seems to be IT band release which I can’t really comment on  at the moment since I’ve started lengthening only last week - time will tell how much of an issue it is. Betz told me that while he doesn’t like to do IT band release pre-emptively, if it were to become necessary during the lengthening period, he will perform the IT band release surgery as an outpatient procedure.

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Quote from: V21 on October 17, 2021, 07:43:03 PMGiotikas does ITB release, while Betz doesn't. Also he offers PT during all lengthening, something Betz doesn't do. I would not go to Betz to be honest, also considering he is more expensive. What I must say, as a current patient in Greece, is that I am a bit tired of Athens, as there are things I don't like about the city. I don't know if same would happen in Germany.

What's so bad about Athens?

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Yea, just curious why is everyone frustrated with the city of Athens? I’m coming next week, and I’m actually really excited.

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It's more expenses but I would make a short list and get a consultation preferably presential, with ALL your questions answered (you will pay a lot of money to one of them after the consultation besides  the consultation itself). Also test their commitment, dedication to patients  not only money  and their own patience!
If in Europe I would include Giotikas, Betz and another one from several possible in the trio shortlist. Don't evaluate by country if they are all in the UE but be cautious about the ultracheap Lithuanian (or Lethonia). Evaluate by technique  cv and experience, atitude towards physioterapy and honest disclosure of the risks and infrastructure (not the luxury of the hotel itself,  more the hospital, how far is the physiotherapy etc.). And avalibility of the surgeon  (for example it appears that Paley allmost doesn't show up to patients anymore and performs around only one surgey each week or month).