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Posted on Jun 30, 2018, 8:59 pm
#1

Regardless of how strange might it sound at first glance, I would ask you to take this idea seriously and contribute in discussion. This is an idea which I couldn't find on this (and the other) LL forum, so after a couple of years of being an occasional lurker, I created this account just to get to know your opinion.

Assumptions:
- Only one leg at a time.
- Patient will visit the hospital only to start and finish each leg's procedure and for regular checks.
- Try to coninue his normal life less affected between procedures.
- Adjustable shoes/lifts will be continuously used to avoid stature deformation due to difference in legs length.
- Lenghtening of the second leg will be started when the first one will be ready to take over its role of a primary performer of body movement.

Advantages:
- The most obvious and most important one: Patient will be able to continue his normal life (work, school, home, family, hobby, social group) not more affected than someone with a normal leg broken.
- All vital power is used to lenghten/build/heal only one leg. Better/faster recovery expected (?).
- Less visible, less obvious (for all of us who prefer to keep LL as a secret).

Disadvantages:
- Twice longer time until the whole procedure is ready.
- Two times more visits in hospital/operations.
- Possibly higher cost.

Pros seem to outgrow cons. Has anybody tried or considered this solution?

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Posted on Jul 6, 2018, 5:47 pm
#2

Quote from: Android on July 06, 2018, 11:20:26 AMYou described unilateral lengthening (...) We have several diaries of patients

Thanks for the keyword, following some links for your all convenience:
Milko, Auron, crimsontide, yagen, U only live once, Four Inch, Antonio, aboali1022

Quote from: Android on July 06, 2018, 11:20:26 AMThere's no question that unilateral lengthening will cost more, it's not just a possibility.

For sure unilateral lenghtening will cost more, comparing to bilateral done in the same clinic. But unilateral with e.g. Dr. Solomin might cost less than bilateral with e.g. Dr. Paley. There are many options to consider, I would rather first decide on the method and then select the doctor.

Quote from: Android on July 06, 2018, 11:20:26 AMYou're doubling the number of surgeries, physical therapy sessions, hospital stay (...)  you'll also double the time away from home during distraction phase

Agree, but at this expense I can continue relatively normal life because of having only one leg affected. By relatively normal life I understand:
- Being able to move across the city (bus, tram, stairs) unsupported;
- Do the shopping, tidy house, take a shower (with crucial areas water-protected);
- Sail, gym, scooter, ping-pong, bow, canoe, golf, etc.;
- Drive an auto-shift car,
- Join parties, meetings, concerts;
- Go to the pub and complain to strangers about my leg broken after unlucky ski accident Lenghtening only one leg at a time, consecutively, with a break between.

Quote from: Android on July 06, 2018, 11:20:26 AMIf you can afford that, I would instead ask the potential patient to consider bilateral Precice Stryde. Since it's fully weight-bearing, having one good leg is not as vital anymore since the risk of nail breakage is eliminated. Once and done with faster overall recovery and less costly.

Please do not feel offended by what I will write right now, please also consider that I am not a specialist, definitely without any medical background, sharing just my personal opinion. I would also appreciate your criticism.

So...
I can't understand why internal nails are so widely preferred on this forum. Two most serious complications: fat embolism and knee damage (e.g. after inserting/removal surgeries) seem to be far more frequent in internal techniques.

Personally, under no circumstances will I let anybody touch any of my healthy joints with a scalpel.

These are ones of the most precious parts of my body, directly determining the quality of my life, and I will not compromise their safety for any shor-time benefit. Long bones are different, they can undergo much deformation/damage until it will start noticeably affecting my life. Therefore I will consider only external systems, even though the procedure is longer and less convenient.

Am I wrong in this approach?

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