I agree.
Nice, but I don't want to go through anesthesia twice. Is there any solution to this? Would the spinal anesthesia be a good idea?
You forgot the biggest downside: if the first leg lengthens to the device maximum and the second one can't, there's no easy way to go backwards on the first one.
Why can't? It's not like I'm gonna lengthen way beyond the safe limit of 5cm. And of course, I'm gonna do proper stretching before the surgery so there's no reason why the second leg won't be able to keep up.
You'll need to do intense physical therapy twice. This is another time and money sink. You also need to be doing PT intensely during and after lengthening, which you wont be able to do in a balanced or controlled way because you're a gimp or perpetually in pain.
Yeah, but like I said, that's possibly a small price to pay for better long-term results.
- When do you start the second leg? After the first leg is completely healed? Because only then do you know you did not mess up that leg.
Yeah of course after it's completely healed.
- Instead of general anaesthesia you can take spinal anaesthesia and ask to remain awake during the procedure or a sedative like Valium.
That's a good idea man, thanks! Will look into this.
- You risk losing privacy if you are on frames for longer.
Haha personally I'm not gonna have that problem. No one's gonna miss me even if I disappear for 5 years.
- Is there a big risk of pulmonary embolism even with external tibias with no nailing? Are the odds same as with precice femurs?
The risks of PE are low compared to the latter. But then again with unilateral, the risks should even be lower.
- One risk of doing tibias is a greater chance of compartment syndrome.
Well yeah, but there are worse risks with femur lengthening I believe.