Dr Dimitrios Giotikas (Athens, Greece)

Edit Post

I booked a surgery with Dr. Dimitrios in Oct  and Aug with Dr. Lee in S. Korea. I still can't decide which dr I will give the green light. I had LON done with Dr. Lee last year. He was a great doctor. I am almost back to normal now just still a little stiff.

Cancel Save Changes

Edit Post

I will most likely choose him during this summer as well. I'll have an appointment with him on the 11th of June, we'll see.

Cancel Save Changes

I booked a surgery with Dr. Dimitrios in Oct  and Aug with Dr. Lee in S. Korea. I still can't decide which dr I will give the green light. I had LON done with Dr. Lee last year. He was a great doctor. I am almost back to normal now just still a little stiff.

I'd be more careful with Giotikas. We still have had no diaries of him.

These forums have went through "phases" with certain doctors many times in the past, at least according to what I've seen. Sarin had a "phase" in the old forums due to those special circumstances, and Guichet at one point was considered one of the best options. Sarin is called a butcher now, and Guichet is discredited.

It's definitely good that Giotikas doesn't recommend ATL and has supposedly worked with deformity correction (didn't see confirmation of that in this thread). If I wanted to be on the safer side, I'd go with Dr. Dongoon Lee in your case. Do let us know your impressions after October, though! Giotikas is still a mystery.

Link: https://www.athensbjr.com/dr-dimitrios-giotikas.html

Great find Android. His credentials look rock solid, strong emphasis on safety, very affordable for PRECICE & TSF, fees include everything except living expenses.

Actually found him through these very forums in this thread. He does look quite good, he's on my shortlist.

---

1. Which methods are used for these procedures? Is it a mix of internal/external methods or are all segments the same (all external, all internal)?

I do four-segment-cross leg lengthening with Precise-2 nail in the femur and Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) external fixator with clickers on the opposite leg. The main advantage of this approach is that patients are able to have a limb to stand and walk on with full weight bearing at all times during the lengthening and consolidation phases. This greatly helps with physiotherapy, muscle preservation and allows patients to continue with their usual daily activities with the least disturbance ( Looking after themselves, seeing friends, going out, even return to work, etc).  If a patient is interested in four-segment lengthening with Precise nails only, I do both femurs (or tibias) first and both tibias (or femurs) at a later stage, (i.e not cross-leg). I do not do femoral lengthening with external fixators for cosmetic reasons.

---

Interesting approach for cross-lateral. Is Giotikas the only doctor mixing internals and externals for cross-lateral?

Interesting approach for cross-lateral. Is Giotikas the only doctor mixing internals and externals for cross-lateral?

I haven't seen it advertised as an option anywhere else. Though using TSF, it seems to be classic Ilizarov without LON/LATN (needs confirmation).

You could probably ask a clinic that offers both externals and internals if it's an option though, since Dr. Birkholtz has mentioned cross-lateral lengthening in the past (and he offers both fixator types). While Dr. Paley doesn't offer it anywhere for CLL patients, Dr. Mahboubian's site still mentions TSF.

Hi friends ! 

I enclose the answer given to me by the doctor's service concerning the operation of both limbs (femur and tibia) on both legs (54k).

They answered me very quickly (one day), I find it really nice of them. Some of my questions are probably trivial for some of you but in case some ask them I prefer the posted.

1 - First, I would like to know what physical condition is required to be eligible for this type of operation? I am not overweight, but I do not know if I have the muscular mass required for such surgery.

"The muscle condition is not a prerequisite for cosmetic limb lengthening (CLL). Contraindications for CLL are: Morbid obesity, Smoking, Immuno-suppression, Chronic infection,  Diabetes, Psychiatric disorders with poor compliance, Anaesthetic related contraindications. "

-> I find it pretty cool, unlike the method of doctor Guichet, we do not need to be an athlete to get surgery!

2 - Can you confirm that the final price for this type of intervention (cross lateral) is well 54.000 euros TTC?

" Prices shown are TTC."

3 - I would like to understand that it is preferential to have surgery done externally or internally the tibia? Which of his methods allows for faster recovery and no future pain? On the other hand, I'm not sure I understood what "PRECICE 1" and "PRECICE2" mean?

"Both external and internal fixation give satisfactory results in tibia. The choice in each case is based on patient's preference, cost considerations and appropriate counselling by Dr Giotikas about the pros and cons of each method. Precise 1 was the first version of the nail which is not routinely used anymore. Precise 2 is the subsequent improved version of the nail."

->I think I discuss this part in more detail with the doctor during a consultation. Indeed, I would like to know better the advantages of this or that method.

4 - I could see that many had complications with other doctors for the operation of a single limb (tibia or femur). Your service proposes to operate both successively, is that not more risky?

"Four segment lengthening (either cross-leg or not) is the only solution for people who want to go beyond 8 cm and consent to accept the related risk after having received appropriate counselling by Dr Dimitrios Giotikas. It is obviously statistically riskier than having lengthening of femur or tibia only."

->It was an obvious and logical answer to the question but other service of LL would not have had this frankness I think.

5 - How long does it take to finally get surgery and consolidate the 4 members to operate? While removing the fixers éxternes of the TSF?

"he actual timings depend on the lengthening goal to be achieved. We generally plan to have the patients back to their lives without frames within 12 months from first surgery."

6 - Finally how long does it take to get a date of intervention after the consultation at athénes?

"Two months, but sometimes can be sooner."

I then add questions that I will send you answers at parties!

1 - In case of possible physical complications following the operation. Should we take charge of any additional operations / treatments that this would induce?

2 - The payment of the entire process must be done before the transaction or it can be staggered?

3 - From what I could understand. You operate initially 2 segments (namely the tibia and the femur) of one leg then the other one after consolidation. (I may have misunderstood) Would not it be better to operate for example the two femur together then the two shins?

4 - All preoperative examinations are made during the initial consultation at athénes?


If you have other ideas of questions that I do not ask yet I'm interested! I intend to book an online service of 15 minutes to try a first approach.

That's great man. I also plan to do the free online consultation.

I am at 165cm and want to do also 10cm on femurs(5/6) and tibia(5/4), just like you guys. My main question would be, in case everything goes well, how much time from operation till walking unaided/resuming normal activities?

That has been answered previously:

Quote

That has been answered previously:

yup, thx Android.. was hoping he would offer to have the second operation much sooner than 6 months...

The thing im concerned about him is his experience. I hope he is the real deal because there dont seem to be any safe option in europe except him and maybe Pili.

Pili isn't safe.

I'm guessing our greek doctor is more experiened in external fixators having been involved in many deformity correction cases.

I booked a surgery with Dr. Dimitrios in Oct  and Aug with Dr. Lee in S. Korea. I still can't decide which dr I will give the green light. I had LON done with Dr. Lee last year. He was a great doctor. I am almost back to normal now just still a little stiff.

Those are two good choices. Don't think you can go wrong with either. The real question is why in the world would you have surgery in August or October with Precice and spend months in a wheelchair, when you can just wait for them to get Stryde and walk two weeks after surgery?

I booked a surgery with Dr. Dimitrios in Oct  and Aug with Dr. Lee in S. Korea. I still can't decide which dr I will give the green light. I had LON done with Dr. Lee last year. He was a great doctor. I am almost back to normal now just still a little stiff.

I'd be more careful with Giotikas. We still have had no diaries of him.

These forums have went through "phases" with certain doctors many times in the past, at least according to what I've seen. Sarin had a "phase" in the old forums due to those special circumstances, and Guichet at one point was considered one of the best options. Sarin is called a butcher now, and Guichet is discredited.

It's definitely good that Giotikas doesn't recommend ATL and has supposedly worked with deformity correction (didn't see confirmation of that in this thread). If I wanted to be on the safer side, I'd go with Dr. Dongoon Lee in your case. Do let us know your impressions after October, though! Giotikas is still a mystery.