Dr Alex Monegal (Barcelona, Spain) Clinica Diagonal

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Quote from: Leonardo2013 on December 13, 2014, 01:52:45 AMHey Musicmaker,

I asked him about Precise, too, and he told me he's trained on it but that he still prefers Fitbone. I asked him other questions (in Spanish) such as what would happen if the Fitbone nail would malfunction and I needed a replacement. He told me that this is rarely to happen but if it were to happen, then the manufacturer Wittenstein would replace it for free and he would not charge anything extra. Then I asked him the material of the Fitbone he uses. He mentions that he prefers no to use Titanium because of "cold fusion" and "deformation" of the nail that could later on difficult its removal. He said his Fitbone nails are approved by the CE and the FDA. And I also asked him about physical therapy. He said that it is included in his price -- 18k Euros per leg -- for the time you are at the hospital. Then he said that it could be done at your home/hotel for 20 - 40 Euros per session or he could refer you to a PT Center in Barcelona. Finally, he recommends operating one leg and staying close by for 1 month and then going home to continue the lengthening there. I hope this helps.

His presentation of the use of Fitbone on his patients looks very convincing to me: http://www.mediafire.com/view/he6f42q1r3fqfa9/Presentaci%C3%B3n_Fitbone.pdf I wish I could take a vacation to Barcelona and pay him a visit.

Leonard, are you sure 18k euro is for entire leg, 1 tibia + 1 femur, also known as unilateral?  Incredible price if correct.

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I think the whole deal for 4 bones is 66,000 Euros I read on the other page.

I really like the idea that its only 4 months after consolidation begins that we can do the other leg. That really cuts down on the time.

I wonder if he would offer a discount if you paid for all of it upfront.

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No no. Patients pay fist operation and second one when second leg is operated.

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Hello. It all comes up to your proportions between tibia and femur. It is very important ends up with cosmetic and biomechanical good outcome.
Reasons to perform first one leg and then the second while using intramedullary are many. You can ask others like Baumgart or Christensen and they will give you same reasons.
First of all is to avoid fat embolism due to Long bone reaming. Second is you can go back no a quite normal life quite straight away. Performing both legs would confine you to a wheelchair while lenthenning and consolidating.
It s not a matter of being afraid, It is that I will never put life of my patients under vital risk.
Other doctors can do whatever they want. I am aware that some patients do not like the idea at first...but they change the ir minds 2 week after surgery when they can go back to theur offices.
Our protocol might be different, but do believe me It s much safer.
My duty is to inform you and that s why I am here. You guys do a great Job sharing experiences and opinions. So please keep doing It and I will be more than happy to help you all on whatever question that may arise.

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Ok Doc but just to make one thing clear:

We can do 1 tibia and 1femur on the same leg at the SAME time. Then wait to do the other leg.

1) How long do we wait to do the other leg?

2) How much does each leg cost (1 femur 1 tibia) ? Is it the 32,000 euro?

Thank you.

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Hi Dr. Monegal:

Do the fitbone nails come in different sizes?  What is the smallest size you have?


After I finish my lengthening (6cm) with internal femur my knee axis will be shifter out of place will this cause arthritis?
 I would like to hear what you think about this:
 " The effect on mechanical axis deviation of femoral lengthening with an intramedullary telescopic nail. "
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22933497

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Thanks, Dr. Monegal

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Quote from: Leonardo2013 on December 13, 2014, 01:52:45 AMHis presentation of the use of Fitbone on his patients looks very convincing to me: http://www.mediafire.com/view/he6f42q1r3fqfa9/Presentaci%C3%B3n_Fitbone.pdf I wish I could take a vacation to Barcelona and pay him a visit.

I viewed the presentation. Thanks Leonardo ! 

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Hello Dr. Monegal;

What I meant to say earlier was that the femurs will have malalignment because of internal lengthening, according to the article;

Quote from: drew on December 15, 2014, 02:15:06 AM " The effect on mechanical axis deviation of femoral lengthening with an intramedullary telescopic nail. "
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22933497

so is a little malalignment (6mm) enough to cause arthritis ?

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it will cause uneven wearing to do 1 leg at a time.

I have no clue on earth why people are trying to jump on this bandwagon. from a scientific point of view this method sux.

the only advantage is you are safer from fat embolism. that is it.

everything else about doing 1 leg at a time is crazy.