E-Mail to Dr. Pili
1. I will soon book an appointment. How long after consultation do I have to wait for surgery?
On your webiste it’s stated that consolidation for 8cm is about 5-6 months:
„Usually it takes around 100 days for lengthening up to 8 cm and 5-6 months to achieve a full consolidation.“ Why would it take longer for less cm?
2. Do I need visa as a German citizen if I want to stay for multiple months?
3. Is the Achilles tendo lengthening risk percentage the same if you do 5cm or more than 5cm?
Dr. Pili's answer
Usually after the consultation around 2-3 months but sometimes I can offer some last minute spaces.
Consolidation time is pretty much the same for 5 or 8 cm.
A german citizen can stay as long as he wishes without a visa.
For ATL, lengthening 5 cm is around 40-50%.
(He didn't answer my first question really)
On choosing a doctor for LL / What can you tell me about Dr. Pili?
Quote from: myloginacct on May 02, 2018, 12:13:07 AMHe doesn't. He uses Precice internals even for tibias.
I think he only uses external fixators for non-cosmetic cases, from what I recall reading in some diaries. I know he did use them cosmetically in the past, though. He showcased his CLL results on achondroplastic patients, which, as far as I'm aware, were done with externals since an early age, as those achondroplastic children grew and developed into adults. So, before their growth plates were closed.
But I thought we should only do tibia with external?
By the way, I send an email to Dr. Pili too.
E-mail to Dr. Pili
Hi Dr. Pili,
My main concern with the surgery is the safety and athletic recovery. To be frank, I am a devoted martial arts practicioner. On the other hand, I also worry that I might not end up taller, but on a wheelchair or even dead instead. I don't know how true it is but I read that LL could cause some serious nerve damage and infection which can lead to death.
So basically, I'd like to know what is the chance of me ending up being permanently disabled or dead if I follow anything you say? And how much athletic recovery could I expect post-surgery in comparison to the original athleticsm?
Dr. Pili's answer
I can reassure you will not end up on a wheelchair or dead! On the other hand I have to warn you that to go back to full martial arts you will need at least 18-20 months.
Where are you from? You should come to Italy for a consultation in order to discuss the details and see weather you are a good candiate for this surgery.
Wow he gives a full assurance
Quote from: Great321 on May 02, 2018, 06:52:46 AME-Mail to Dr. Pili
1. I will soon book an appointment. How long after consultation do I have to wait for surgery?
On your webiste it’s stated that consolidation for 8cm is about 5-6 months:
„Usually it takes around 100 days for lengthening up to 8 cm and 5-6 months to achieve a full consolidation.“ Why would it take longer for less cm?
2. Do I need visa as a German citizen if I want to stay for multiple months?
3. Is the Achilles tendo lengthening risk percentage the same if you do 5cm or more than 5cm?
Dr. Pili's answer
Usually after the consultation around 2-3 months but sometimes I can offer some last minute spaces.
Consolidation time is pretty much the same for 5 or 8 cm.
A german citizen can stay as long as he wishes without a visa.
For ATL, lengthening 5 cm is around 40-50%.
(He didn't answer my first question really)
Consolidation varies on an individual by individual basis. If you are young, don't smoke, have wider, strong bones, have been blessed by good genetics, are getting great nutrition and calcium+vitamin d3 suppplementation, doing all you should be doing, your consolidation will be better than someone who is doing the bare minimum and and eating like crxp.
Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Quote from: myloginacct on May 02, 2018, 12:13:07 AMHe doesn't. He uses Precice internals even for tibias.
I think he only uses external fixators for non-cosmetic cases, from what I recall reading in some diaries. I know he did use them cosmetically in the past, though. He showcased his CLL results on achondroplastic patients, which, as far as I'm aware, were done with externals since an early age, as those achondroplastic children grew and developed into adults. So, before their growth plates were closed.
Correct. For cosmetic patients it's only Precice for all leg segments.
Patients requiring complex deformities may use externals like the TSF, since that's what the device excels in.
Quote from: Great321 on May 01, 2018, 06:50:13 PMI sent an email to Dr. Pili today:
Dear Dr. Pili,
I have read good things about you and I’m planning to do this surgery (5-6cm – external tibia) soon.
I have a few questions:
1. Is it possible to get an surgery appointment by the end of August or in September?
2. Do you recommend (for safety reasons) to stay in Italy for the lengthening and consolidation phase?
3. If I aim 5-6cm how long does it take until the frames come off?
4. What location do you recommend for me to stay a few to several months that are not too expensive (less than 500/month) and not too far away from an airport?
5. How much PT is needed and how much does it cost?
His answer a few hours later:
You can have indeed 5-6 cm with HEF on tibia, it should take 7-11 months.
You can have an appointment with me in August-September.
http://drpiliortopedico.it/bookings/ for bookings
You can stay in Italy in Lecco for as long as you like. There are apartments you can rent for around 500 € and we will help with visa.
The surgery costs 19-20.000 €, if Achilles tendo lengthening is needed (80% chance) it will cost you around 4500 €, for frame removal another 3500 €.
Kind regards
Dr D Pili
[email protected]
www.drpiliortopedico.it
Is the Achilles tendo lenghtening really that common? I think it's strange that the cost of the frame removal isn't added to the price in the first place. On their website it's also written that full consolidation takes up to 5-6 months for 8cm. But he wrote me something with 7-8 months for 5-6cm ...?? I don't understand that
Thanks for the info man! it really helped me.
I'm pretty convinced with Pili... except for the ATL surgery. I don't trust that and I think the recovery that will be longer or you'll be movement-limited for life. That's just my opinion but I'd better ask a few doctors that I know to see what they think about it.
Does anyone here in this forum has had the ATL surgery? Did you recover after it?
- A. Lecter
Quote from: LongueEpopée on May 01, 2018, 11:17:43 PM
is it me or you're just comparing internal price (paley) with external price (pili) ?
Pili charges like 50 K for internals, I guess.
Quote from: Argent_Lecter on May 03, 2018, 03:00:53 AMThanks for the info man! it really helped me.
I'm pretty convinced with Pili... except for the ATL surgery. I don't trust that and I think the recovery that will be longer or you'll be movement-limited for life. That's just my opinion but I'd better ask a few doctors that I know to see what they think about it.
Does anyone here in this forum has had the ATL surgery? Did you recover after it?
- A. Lecter
Me. And no I havent and noone recovers in an acceptable degree.
Atl should be banned, simply as that.
1 year before I did at shortening and now I am much better though. If I've left myself with atl I would be ruined forever.
but if the doctor says ATL is necessary what should you do then ? does it help to stop lengthening? what if it's too late?
Quote from: Great321 on May 03, 2018, 08:24:25 AMbut if the doctor says ATL is necessary what should you do then ? does it help to stop lengthening? what if it's too late?
E-mail doctors like Paley, Birkholtz, Solomin, Kulesh, and get their opinions. No one in this forum can appropriately answer a medical question like that.
One paper I read did suggest physiotherapy could deal with external fixator lengthening problems rather than straight ATL. But if your doctor says you need ATL, what are you gonna do? You're not an orthopedic surgeon to make a medical call about your specific instance. Get the most opinions you can on this.
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