Here are some that I've been studying:
- Dr. Dimitrios Giotikas: Reception gives a professional honest response, solid background of the doctor, use TSF, nice city in Athens, but lack of proofs so far and doctor is relatively young. Price-wise while is affordable but still far more costly compared to Solomin. Never had fat embolism cases, claims only minor complications such as broken nails and pin-site infections. The best thing is he doesn't do ATL at all cost and has his own procedure to treat ballerina. 43 CLL cases (24 tibia, 19 femur), up to 150 LL cases per/year (for the last 5 years)
- Dr. Leonid Solomin (ft. Dr. Kulesh) : Solid background, experienced, many successful diaries on the forum and unbelievably cheap. But he uses conventional Illizarov fixator instead of modern TSF and seems to be very blatantly honest about risks and expect a loss of athletic function. I'm not sure if he's honest or just lacks of confidence. However, he never had FE cases, no amputations and only 1 death following an elongation surgery (leg length inequality) over the past 18 years due to an intolerance to anesthesia. Another problem is he does ATL.
Because of his extremely low price though, one could probably consider unilateral external surgery for extra safety and guaranteed maximum results.
- Dr. Robert Rozbruch : Widely regarded as the best LL doctor in the world after Paley but he asked the same price of $125 for TSF as PRECICE which I think is hilarious. Worth it?
- Dr. Mangal Parihar : Eventhough he seems to be a good capable and responsible doctor with experience, unfortunately his clinic looks like a chithole in a 3rd world country and price wise, still more expensive than Dr. Solomin. Worth considering?
- Dr. Shahab Mahboubian : Has never been very appealing to me, but does have some positive notes: In US, a few successful diaries on the forum and quite experienced. TSF Price = $400
I really question the wisdom of choosing Dr. Giotikas over Dr. Solomin. It seems that the only reason is just to avoid ATL.
Quote from: Johnson1111 on July 07, 2018, 04:10:03 PMSolomin and Kulesh without question IMO. Wish I had the balls to do externals. Their experience at that price is almost unmatched.
Wish I had the balls to do internals. lol. I'm not sure what you mean by that, internals are always dangerous.
Quote from: Johnson1111 on July 07, 2018, 05:59:50 PMWell for external femur i'm out of the country for 200+ days for internal with STRYDE i'm only out for about 3 months although it's infinitely more expensive. The procedure is less barbaric and theres less scarring with internal.
What you describe is about saving time and has nothing to do with safety. Internal procedure is definitely more barbaric. I think you need to reconsider it if those are your reasons.
Quote from: Johnson1111 on July 07, 2018, 07:41:15 PMHow is internal more barbaric for femurs?
External is just a few screws going through your bones, Internal nail literally drills a hole into your bone canal.
Quote from: MirinHeight on July 08, 2018, 04:05:37 PMMahboubian told me 50k for tsf.
Lol I wanted to write 40k actually, but maybe you're spot on.
Who do you think is the best among my list?
Quote from: MirinHeight on July 11, 2018, 03:55:01 PMim saving up for Mahboubian
can't afford Rozbruch even though I think he's the best out of all.
Mahboubian has a good track record for pts so far, and I plan on meeting a few of them face to face too when the time comes.
TSF frame is the best external frame and allows for early weight-bearing. I trust the US healthcare system (hospital, surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses, staff, etc). I researched Mahboubian a ton and I also want to be a physician so I know how hard it is to get a fellowship in deformity and limb lengthening at HSS (#1 orthopedic hospital in the country) as an orthopedic surgeon.
My second choice that fits my budget for external fixator would be Dr. Mangal Parihar in India. One of the best orthopedic surgeons in the world imo. Only problem is he's in India. I don't think I would feel safe in that old broken down hospital and it will be a stressful time for me
Why not Dr. Solomin or Dr. Giotikas? Solomin uses classic Illizarov while Giotikas uses TSF.
You think TSF frame is necessary to increase the chance of success of the whole treatment?
I also think Rozbruch TSF is hilarious. I wondered if he's joking.
Quote from: MirinHeight on July 11, 2018, 04:02:39 PMnot enough diaries from dr Solomon
also ive heard a few bad stories from pts of his if I remember correctly.
haven't researched Dr. Giotikas
TSF frame allows early weight bearing so I think that would be beneficial. but from the studies ive read, tsf frame took same amount of time to recover when compared to classic externals.
I also have some curvature of the tibias I would like to get corrected. so tsf would be good for that too, and I want to weight bear as soon as possible
Really? It looks like we have more diaries on Solomin than Giotikas. Fallen had some problem with Mahboubian too.
Quote from: MirinHeight on July 11, 2018, 04:11:26 PMjust looked up Dr. Giotikas
has very solid credentials. I am going to research him more
Great! Let us know what you find.
Quote from: qirenzhe123 on July 11, 2018, 05:50:40 PMI think external Dr. Catagni is fine.
He doesn't do anyone above 160m and likes to do ATL.
Quote from: qirenzhe123 on July 11, 2018, 06:00:05 PMWhat is ATL?
Achilles tendon lengthening.
Quote from: qirenzhe123 on July 11, 2018, 07:12:18 PMYou can choose not to lengthen your Achilles tendon.
I'm not sure about that. We might be in so much pain and have no choice but to do the surgery if he doesn't have other procedures to treat it.
Quote from: taller_in_Kiev on July 12, 2018, 02:10:33 PMWhy would you even consider external?!
Safest and cheap. I am lengthening my tibias.
Quote from: taller_in_Kiev on July 12, 2018, 03:28:04 PMHas tradeoffs tho. Extended hospitalisation, more scarring, less mobility during procedure. What's your budget if you don't mind me asking?
I can stand extended hospitalisation, more scarring, less mobility during procedure. IMO, these are trivial and very temporary. However, I can't stand fat embolism. Internal method isn't best for tibias anyway and will almost certainly cause permanent knee pain as reported.
I don't really set a limitiation for my budget. I don't actually intend to go cheap. My priorities are the safety of the lengthening method and the capability of the doctor. However, I wouldn't mind a more attractive price if the quality is not any less.
Quote from: Bry on July 12, 2018, 06:37:29 PMMy target is 7cm, I wonder if I should set for tibias and do it sooner or save more money and wait a few years to do internals.
Since my torso is relatively short, tibias may look better than having a femur almost longer than my torso. lol
Knowing external is safer makes me give it priority over internals, and to that extend, tibia over femur.
IMO, proportions should be the priority. Remember that it's your proportions for life. It's much better to be 174cm and looking aesthetic and proportional than 175cm but looking like a freak.
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