Hy, im planning either doing the surgery with G nail by Giotikas or betzbone by Becker.
Im interested, do theire surgical techniques and physiotherapy differ greatlay?
Wich one do you prefer?
What has been youre experience with either of them?
Thanks for any response!
I've met one forum member in person who has experience with both doctors. But I'm not sure if I should mention his name? Maybe he will read this and PM you
Giotikas has a nice "package" deal as in he has a driver setup to take people to physio from the hotels, and the physio place has alot of experience from just sheer huge volume of patients. I won't lie, it's a bit crowded though at physio though. And Athens is just not wheelchair friendly if you like exploring the city. Novotel is one of the most popular hotel options (close to the PT center) and the area around it does not look very safe tbh. I did gnail femurs. The right leg clicking at some parts of the journey for gnail- I think if you ask around about this, you'll get an idea for its difficulty/pain level. I know the youtube video on gnail makes it look very easy/painless and it was for part of my journey but I found it much more difficult for 0-2.5 cm and beyond 6cm for the right leg.
I believe that most likely clicking for betzbone is possibly easier (it is less length per click I believe)
But I think Becker may be the better option for alot of people because he has access to a weight bearing tibia nail as well (so he has both a weight bearing option for femur (betzbone 2.0) and also a weight bearing option for tibia (also betzbone 2.0)), so I would consider Becker if you have the money. Giotikas right now has access to weight bearing nail for femurs (gnail for femurs) but I believe he does not have access to a weight bearing tibia nail as of now ever since STRYDE was recalled. I don't know the reason- there do exist weight bearing gnails for tibias in Paris and Milan (used by Jean-Marc Guichet, the creator of gnail) but I believe Dr. Dimitrios Giotikas doesn't use it like that or doesn't have access to it or maybe there are other reasons for this, not sure
The practical result of this is if you want to do fully internal nails for tibias at some point (not external frame) with Giotikas, your option right now will be precise for tibias which is not weight bearing (more time on a wheelchair).
Might be good to find the one forum member here with experience with both doctors and also unrelated to that to read the one betz tibia diary we have (he seems to be having a good experience that is better than the precise tibia patients).
I think they are both amazing doctors, but I vote Becker (better nail options, nicer area, clicking probably easier, ability to stick with one doctor if you want weight bearing for both femur and tibia) if you have the money
Quote from: SpeedDialer on February 07, 2023, 01:41:42 PMI've met one forum member in person who has experience with both doctors. But I'm not sure if I should mention his name? Maybe he will read this and PM you
Giotikas has a nice "package" deal as in he has a driver setup to take people to physio from the hotels, and the physio place has alot of experience from just sheer huge volume of patients. I won't lie, it's a bit crowded though at physio though. And Athens is just not wheelchair friendly if you like exploring the city. Novotel is one of the most popular hotel options (close to the PT center) and the area around it does not look very safe tbh. I did gnail femurs. The right leg clicking at some parts of the journey for gnail- I think if you ask around about this, you'll get an idea for its difficulty/pain level. I know the youtube video on gnail makes it look very easy/painless and it was for part of my journey but I found it much more difficult for 0-2.5 cm and beyond 6cm for the right leg.
I believe that most likely clicking for betzbone is possibly easier (it is less length per click I believe)
But I think Becker may be the better option for alot of people because he has access to a weight bearing tibia nail as well (so he has both a weight bearing option for femur (betzbone 2.0) and also a weight bearing option for tibia (also betzbone 2.0)), so I would consider Becker if you have the money. Giotikas right now has access to weight bearing nail for femurs (gnail for femurs) but I believe he does not have access to a weight bearing tibia nail as of now ever since STRYDE was recalled. I don't know the reason- there do exist weight bearing gnails for tibias in Paris and Milan (used by Jean-Marc Guichet, the creator of gnail) but I believe Dr. Dimitrios Giotikas doesn't use it like that or doesn't have access to it or maybe there are other reasons for this, not sure
The practical result of this is if you want to do fully internal nails for tibias at some point (not external frame) with Giotikas, your option right now will be precise for tibias which is not weight bearing (more time on a wheelchair).
Might be good to find the one forum member here with experience with both doctors and also unrelated to that to read the one betz tibia diary we have (he seems to be having a good experience that is better than the precise tibia patients).
I think they are both amazing doctors, but I vote Becker (better nail options, nicer area, clicking probably easier, ability to stick with one doctor if you want weight bearing for both femur and tibia) if you have the money
It is Interesting, how With G- nail the bone is already lenghtened 1 cm during the surgery, I wonder how much is Betzbone lenghtened during the surgery.
You have a great wing span (177), I think you'll have a great natural looking result
What year ish /time are you thinking of doing the surgery? If you have alot of time, maybe things will change later if a new version of precise/stryde ever comes out one of these years
I started off with 6mm. Theres a range and the max is 8mm. I think its between 4 and 8. I dont really like the idea of cranking people under anesthesia just to give them a head start so Im glad I had a modest initial distraction.
Thanks, I wil make a diary for sure. How exactly are diaries made? Wil I start with just a regular post on "limb lenghtening discussions" and start expanding that post? Or should I do the initial post on "limb lenghtening patient experiences"?
I have heard of patients who went to Giotikas to solve problems they got from Betz or Becker, but not the opposite.
Quote from: SpeedDialer on February 07, 2023, 05:10:02 PMYou have a great wing span (177), I think you'll have a great natural looking result
What year ish /time are you thinking of doing the surgery? If you have alot of time, maybe things will change later if a new version of precise/stryde ever comes out one of these years
Im really hoping to do it in the summer, when the 3 month break for the university starts. I dont really know if Stryde is so much better than the clicking mechanism?
Quote from: Maalane on February 08, 2023, 08:45:54 PMIm really hoping to do it in the summer, when the 3 month break for the university starts.
3 months this summer? Ah ok then forget about precise/stryde. Let's say you use a weight bearing femur nail (ex: gnail for femurs, or betzbone 2.0 for femurs).
If you only have 3 months, a few things to keep in mind. Giotikas estimates it takes about 6 months to walk normally. However, you will be able to use crutches decently comfortably to get around campus at the end of 3 months unless something bad happens. Forearm crutches are smaller and could be more convenient. Some people progress faster than this, though, I know a few people who did. And he recommends people continue to go to physical therapy after those 3 months usually.
If you end up returning to campus in the fall to take classes, might want to take a lighter course load that fall + take easier classes if possible. Lengthening a bit less might help a bit too. Alternatively, I feel that schools often accomodate people for medical leave for 1 semester
Quote from: Marie_Bard on February 08, 2023, 08:39:23 PMI have heard of patients who went to Giotikas to solve problems they got from Betz or Becker, but not the opposite.
Only thing ive ever heard is patients going to Giotikas to get an IT band release when Betz was in charge. Becker does release standard now.
You must be logged in to post a reply.
