Fitbone Stage Right Tibia Lenghtening (Dr. Monegal), Barcelona, Spain

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Hi cooper
 I wanna know about your excperience
Was it good?

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Update:
I had very bad experience with Tibia lengthening. I made terrible mistake of doing tibia with Monegal. I probably went through worst ultimate nightmares. I usually write Dr. in front of him but he lost that honorary title long time ago. Ever since I came to US I had some nuisances about right tibia. It felt something did not go well. But I was giving benefit of doubt. I have been telling all LLers’ through private chat tibia should be easy and since this is one leg I should have much better experience than femur.

Late last year I went to see Dr. Rozbruch in New York to check on tibia. Immediately after reading x-ray he pointed out 3 major issues. 1) Provactum tibia bone curving 2) Fibula migrated up. When the monegal fixate tibia and fib bones he somehow pushed the fibula up and fixate. The angulation is not correct this is major issue out of three 3) low callous and possible non-union 4) lost nerve on feet about 25% (not major but had to fix).  Dr. R advised to fixed all three and his assistant wrote a note which I forwarded monegal right away. I asked precisely to Dr. R what can be done with him. The answer was reverse everything and put external fixator for tibia and small monorail for tibia and lengthen. I was devastated to hear that!

I emailed monegal and hoped he can correct the issue. But he denied any of that need fix. Similar response to Crimson: ‘everything is fine' and keep lengthening to your desire 5.5cm. He also advised me not see any LL specialist. I told him ok. But I was not stupid. I knew by then I have major issues and I was only about 3.5cm. I keep lengthening and start looking for a solution to fix right leg and lengthen left leg. I was determined to get it done in US because I cannot take more chances.
The two US doctor I communicated:
1) Paley : first chastised me for going for inexperience doctor second the complication is major and will require more time and money to fix. His recommendation is take out the fitbone, put external fixator to not to loose the distraction gained, inserted non lengthening rod, lengthen fibula by 1cm, plated fibula, fixated tibia/fibula, bone grafted tibia and fibula for non-union, nerve decompression and put new non lengthening rod. He estimated about $100K for fix and left leg lengthening with precise.
2) Rozbruch: fist he did not want to help and asked me to go my first surgeon. I told him monegal is not capable of fixing and cannot be trusted. He said he will help. Cost about the same.

I also contacted few other doctors and everyone agreed on the three issues.

I picked one of the US doctor and currently in recovering. I am not disclosing anything yet and will let you know eventually.


Monegal Issues:
1)   Dishonest: He did not disclose all the information and lied on patient count and his experience. He emailed he performed 600 bone segments. Come to find out I was third tibia patient. One of his patient told me in Spain everyone lies. His manipulates deliberately and black mailed his patient to write good things about him and defend him as often as necessary. You cannot trust this doctor and his patient specially from Spain!!!
2)   Unethical: If you are not honest than you do not have ethics. Especially in this profession you want to go to doctor who respects patient rights, if something is not right than let the patient know and possible solution to fix. Just not to say everything will be ok. You need more time.
3)   Poor Osteotomy: Most of his patient has issue with callous formation. Interesting part is all of the patient with few exceptions are lengthening less than 6cm. Still have poor bone formation. I have both fibula and tibia non-union and misalignment. Grafted both and I gained only 5.3com. I thought I did 6 but the x-ray show 5.3com.
4)   Poor logistics: When I had my surgery I was in recovery room for long time. He could not find me and went home without meeting me in person. He later phoned me to say everything went ok. They forgot to put catheter and I did not pee for long time. I screamed and used profanity to get attention at the hospital. The epidural was not turned on and I was in pain for long time. Nursed blamed me tempering with epidural and told monegal I shut it off.
5)   Pain management: I was in 10/10 pain level during first night. The worst pain of my life. Nurses and caretaker does not know how to manage pain. Their respond will be ‘that is normal’. On my last two surgery my pain level never went more than 2/3.
6)   Fibula bone: For monegal fibula bone is not important and ok to have non-union. Even mentioned he can take fibula bone put some place else for bone lengthening while I was in Spain. Fibula is sort of extra bone put in reserve. Such a stupid comment coming from surgeon. His action is not to do anything regarding my fibula non-union.
7)   Forum: He is using forum to fish new patient and anyone raised flag he tries to shut him off either by himself or through his patient. He gets mad to his patient if anyone writes bad thing and continuously monitor forum thread. He probably spends more time in forum than any of us out here.
   His Patients: most of his patients are good people by heart. We all come from same height neurosis industry and wanting to get taller. I feel forum is fraternity to support each other. This doctor is exploiting forum to his advantage. We need to stop him. I am still in contact with few of them. They need him to fix the issue, correct whatever complication and have to oblige whatever he asks them to write. I would not be surprised if few of his patients come to this thread and try to defend him.
9)   Complication: Almost all of his patient has some complications. Many of them cannot walk without crutches. Complications includes but not limited to premature fitbone fracture, fitbone malfunctions, loose screws, serious nerve issue, misalignment and unkown. Unknown are other complications which patient does not know because they have not seen other LL specialist.

Suggestion to Forum Moderator:

Ban monegal effective immediately and stop any patient going to him wherever possible. If I can save one life, leg or limb than I feel my diary has serve good for this community. Why let dishonest/crook surgeon come to forum and exploit the harmony of forum and most importantly destroyed people lives. I intentionally write ‘lives’ because it is not only one patient it’s the entire family involve.

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Cooper, really sorry to hear about your complications and experience with monegal.  Hope you are able to get your issues fixed and recover.  Thank you so much for coming back to post an update.  There were a lot of rumors and hearsay going around about this doctor but it means a lot coming directly from you.  You've essentially helped me cross this doctor off my list if I ever decide to do my tibias and I appreciate it.  wish you the best man.

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oh man.. That is very bad. I hope you recover from this quickly. And thanks for coming out and warning others about this doctor.

We should make a separate section in forum for such doctors to warn future LLers to save them from such disasters.

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you don't know me but I'm praying for you man

I hope all Americans and Europeans understand as well that if they leave America or the European Union they wave virtually all right sue a doctor for malpractice

it is virtually impossible for an American to sue a Spanish doctor

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This surgery is too risky

I talk with many people, and the vast majority have problems. I'm not singling out any Dr here... The patients that  communicate with me  didn't all choose the same Dr.  There's a high chance of serious complications with most Drs  based on  numerous patient testimonials

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fk man, sorry to hear I genuinely wish you a speedy recovery. Thank you for sharing your experience.

As a percentage, what sort of number of people have complications? In an e-mail correspondence with me, he quite clearly - and recently - stated that he only had one serious complication.

In what way exactly was Dr Monegal influencing patients and what they wrote on the forum - was there any sort of blackmail involved?

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So LLuser was right all along...

 He should be allowed to return to the forum

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Quote from: TIBIKE200 on March 25, 2016, 12:06:51 AMSo LLuser was right all along...

 He should be allowed to return to the forum

As one of his critics at the time, I agree. Although I wish he'd been able to provide more evidence, I feel I owe him an apology  .

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Quote from: crimsontide on March 24, 2016, 10:29:14 PMThis surgery is too risky

I talk with many people, and the vast majority have problems. I'm not singling out any Dr here... The patients that  communicate with me  didn't all choose the same Dr.  There's a high chance of serious complications with most Drs  based on  numerous patient testimonials

This surgery is risky no doubt. Patient should pick a doctor who is 1) honest 2) experienced 3)fix complication. LL is not only inserting IM nail and saying everything will work out.  I was lied about couple of early patient surgery went well. Lied about years of experience and 600 bone segments. And when complication occurred virtually no remedy. Importantly his paitent and doctor himself deliberately tried to 'sell' surgery.Quote from: Nightwish on March 24, 2016, 11:57:50 PMfk man, sorry to hear I genuinely wish you a speedy recovery. Thank you for sharing your experience.

As a percentage, what sort of number of people have complications? In an e-mail correspondence with me, he quite clearly - and recently - stated that he only had one serious complication.

In what way exactly was Dr Monegal influencing patients and what they wrote on the forum - was there any sort of blackmail involved?

He has not done many LL. All the ones I know except one femoral did not have any complication. I was personally in touch with 4 and 3 of them have some sort of complication and if you count me that will be 4 patients with complication. Some of them have major one and not sure if they will ever back walk to normal.

He coach his patient (especially from Spain) to write in a style and potrays him as competent surgeon. And he is not!

Quote from: TIBIKE200 on March 25, 2016, 12:06:51 AMSo LLuser was right all along...

 He should be allowed to return to the forum

This is insane! Why would they ban him? Moderator please help us shade the light. We do not want this forum to be like other one. if this forum was genuinely established to advocate LL and share the truth knowledge & experience than any flags and concern should be seriously considered. I am sure monegal wanted ban and he got what he wanted. Shame on us.

Again I received several PMs in last few hours. My recommendation avoid monegal at any cost whether femur or tibia. You do not want a doctor who is not honest and inexperienced. This surgery should not taken lightly. I could have not walked normal ever in my life if I do not have access to good doctors, technology and hospital. I am still not out of woods. I may need more surgery to fix, time will tell. But praying everything is going to work out this time.