Guichet nail with Giotikas or Betzbone with Becker?

Deciding between the two nails. I'm pretty sold on the weight-bearing types, however I'm not sure which one/technique to choose.

Guichet nail seems significantly cheaper (nail and Greece living). Anyone have any insight or advice to provide. I may be missing something here, but it doesn't seem like Betzbone has that much upside over the Guichet nail to justify the increased cost.

All thoughts welcome.

Consider which doctors perform the surgeries and check their CVs (past qualifications, experience in ortho and LL etc)

Decide the doctor first and then go with the nail they use

Dr. Betz overlengthen almost every single patient and as for as I have read here, doesn't do IT band release which is crucial. I would choose Dr Giotikas, if it has to be a weightbearing nail, he not only better but also cheaper.

Good morning

I plan to do 8cm femur with Betzbone since its convient for me as im in germany, i keep seeing this IT band release, i googled but i dont really know what to look for, what happens when you dont do it?

Thanks

As you lengthen more, your muscles, particulary the IT Band becomes tighter and stretching harder, thus preventing you to lengthen higher amounts. If this technique is not performed, you may also develop a duck-ass. However there is one thing that none talks about when discussing IT Band release - it's negative effects (one runner tore his meniscus 2 times) - https://regenexx.com/blog/iliotibial-band-itb-release-surgery/. I do not know to which extent this accident was caused by the surgery itself or it was just an unfortunate coincidence. But I guess it is not a big deal for legthening patients as most of them really do not care about their athletic ability.

Your example is ITB at the knee.  I would have thought LL ITB is done higher.

G-Nail and Betzbone are the same thing practically speaking. Both are slightly modified versions of the original Albizzia nail.

Giotikias is the for more experienced orthopedic surgeon. Becket also doesn’t do ITB release which you will need if you plan on lengthening more than a few centimeters

Quote from: DanishViking on August 24, 2023, 07:20:02 AMDr. Betz overlengthen almost every single patient and as for as I have read here, doesn't do IT band release which is crucial. I would choose Dr Giotikas, if it has to be a weightbearing nail, he not only better but also cheaper.

I don't know about previously. But when I did it I got a soft IT band release with my operation with betzbone.

Becker does IT release.  Not sure why this still gets parroted as it been mentioned probably 100 times on this forum for over a year.  Betz didnt do it but Becker does...and Betz is completely out of the picture now.

Quote from: tallertaller on August 25, 2023, 11:38:18 AMI don't know about previously. But when I did it I got a soft IT band release with my operation with betzbone.

Soft ITB release is not a real ITB release. Every other reputable surgeon says the same thing.