Considering 4 cm femur, what to expect?

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4 cm femorial lengthening with Dr. Guichet in the coming years (whenever I get the funds). Here's what Guichets website says:

QuoteIt takes 1 day per mm. The main risks are during the lengthening period. It is therefore appropriate and desirable to stay throughout the lengthening period in Marseille. This is not only valid for patients of Dr. Guichet, but also for any surgeon, and saying anything to the contrary would not be fair to the patient.

So 4 cm should be achieved in around 40 days -that's a conservatice estimate considering that there is a 5-10mm expansion during the initial operation.

Then it says this:

QuoteAn extremely well-prepared patient can expect to walk 'normally' for others watching them, 4 to 6 months after a 6-7 cm gain, but 12-16 months after a 10 cm gain. For less trained patients, recovery can take up to 12-14 months for a 6 cm gain.

It's hard to say how much easier it is doing 4 over 6 cm but I think we can agree these are optimistic estimates. It's also unclear if this time period is counted from the intial op or from the end of the lengthening process. Anyway it'll probably be a year before I will walk normally again.

QuoteImpact or competition sports are resumed after full bone fusion (generally 5-8 months post-operatively).

QuoteA patient may return to work within 2 to 6 months postoperatively for a lengthening of between 4 cm and 9 cm. The amount of time it will take to return to specific activities is dependent more on an individual patient than on absolute gain. For example, some patients tolerate a lengthening of up to 8 to 9 cm and can resume work 5 months after surgery, while others only moderately tolerate a 5 to 6 cm lengthening.

Obviously I have no idea how well my body will tolerate lengthening, is there any way to get a hint?

Anyway, it'll be at least a one year commitment for me, two years before I'll be running normally and play sports again and that is considering all goes well. Then add in the cost of more than 600 000 SEK. I want to be taller but it sure isn't easy or convenient in the least. I don't understand how some people manage to lengthen 6 cm+

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Hi
Why do you want to do 4 cms? Because of your wingspan? (i think i saw at some post that you said your wingspan is shorter than your height?)

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Quote from: Uppland on December 20, 2015, 03:59:50 PM4 cm femorial lengthening with Dr. Guichet in the coming years (whenever I get the funds). Here's what Guichets website says:

So 4 cm should be achieved in around 40 days -that's a conservatice estimate considering that there is a 5-10mm expansion during the initial operation.

Then it says this:

It's hard to say how much easier it is doing 4 over 6 cm but I think we can agree these are optimistic estimates. It's also unclear if this time period is counted from the intial op or from the end of the lengthening process. Anyway it'll probably be a year before I will walk normally again.

Obviously I have no idea how well my body will tolerate lengthening, is there any way to get a hint?

Anyway, it'll be at least a one year commitment for me, two years before I'll be running normally and play sports again and that is considering all goes well. Then add in the cost of more than 600 000 SEK. I want to be taller but it sure isn't easy or convenient in the least. I don't understand how some people manage to lengthen 6 cm+

Uppland

You should know better than anyone what to expect. You've been a member of this forum for a while now.

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Quote from: Uppland on December 20, 2015, 03:59:50 PMI don't understand how some people manage to lengthen 6 cm+

When you're 160cm, short and miserable, you can be 166cm instead of 164cm. I noticed you don't have this problem, but don't be surprised about the average Paley tibia patient gaining an average 6.8cm.

Also, your question about lengthening tolerance: You already know the answer to this. Everyone's body is different, and every leg is different. The only thing you can do is strengthen and stretch your legs pre-op for an easier time.

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But if you do 4 cms And you can see how your body tolerante the lengthening. Is it possible to rebreak your fémur?

 Maybe this way you have a faster recovery.

Has anybody done a rebreak?

Thank you

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Uppland I have read your post and I think you are a smart kid and you know what to expect. I don't think you will face any serious complications because you are very young, 4 cm is a small amount of lengthening and you are considering a good doctor.

I am also considering 4/5 cm but in tibia due to lack of money.

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Quote from: Deads on December 20, 2015, 07:21:40 PMUppland

You should know better than anyone what to expect. You've been a member of this forum for a while now.

Up till recently it's mostly been a sort of gathering of knowledge and abstract ideas. Now I'm actually planning how to fit into a time-frame, pay for it and considering how it will change my body and lifestyle in a really practical sense.

I'm still not sure how realistic this is for me and the long term risks/benefits aren't clear at all.

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If you're gonna do 4cm with Dr. Guichet, you will absolutely breeze through it. It will be like not even lengthening at all.

You get 2.5cm about 2 weeks post-op, then the clicks will slow down. I believe a month post-op, I was at about 4/4.5cm.

Your recovery will likely be very easy too because you won't have stretched to the point of having super weak gluteus medius and tight hip flexors (you'll of course have it, but not nearly as bad as those of us who did 6.5cm and up). Just focus on stretching your hip flexors as much as you can, and as soon as you recovery enough, strengthen your glute maximus and medius to stabilize your walking.

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Quote from: yagen on December 20, 2015, 10:46:20 PM
Has anybody done a rebreak?

I sometimes toy with the idea of a rebreak, but my proportions I don't think will allow it. But supposedly, it's a very simple (relatively, anyway) process.

I'm going to suck it up and do tibias for 1-1.5 inches max (to keep the risks and recovery time under an eternity) in like 2 years. Figure give my body more of a chance to recover from the 7cm I already did on femurs.

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Its nearly impossible to know how fast you will recover. I was far more diligent and in better shape/a younger age than many patients and I had a bad time.

However, I haven't encountered anyone who did 4 or even 6 cm who did poorly. 4 would to me, seem to be incredibly safe on femurs and you would probably be walking 2 or 3 months after you finished pretty decently.