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[sixfootandhalf]

I am hoping to get my surgery done by an excellent surgeon.

They are offering both soft, and proper ITB release.

As i will be lengthening a large amount, i do not want to pay again in Greece for Dr Goitikas to cut my ITB band post lengthening.

Which one should i go for?

To those who have had ITB release and are getting Femurs lengthened, did you suffer from wide legs etc?

[vincentfreeman]

Same as my thread - have the same question. Dr Betz will do the full IT Band release if requested, but they strongly recommend the soft release instead. The part that is a little confusing to me is when other Doctors or patients refer to IT band release, where they referring to a full release or just a soft release. It seems pretty consistent that most patients who extend femurs past a certain point need an IT band release, but it's unclear whether a soft release does enough plus stretching heavily during lengthening.

[sixfootandhalf]

Same as my thread - have the same question. Dr Betz will do the full IT Band release if requested, but they strongly recommend the soft release instead. The part that is a little confusing to me is when other Doctors or patients refer to IT band release, where they referring to a full release or just a soft release. It seems pretty consistent that most patients who extend femurs past a certain point need an IT band release, but it's unclear whether a soft release does enough plus stretching heavily during lengthening.

He is one of the best surgeons.

I have much respect for Dr Betz and Dr Becker.

Can anyone update us on soft ITB release, and whether we should ask for the proper ITB release to begn with?

[Taller90]

I am hoping to get my surgery done by an excellent surgeon.

They are offering both soft, and proper ITB release.

As i will be lengthening a large amount, i do not want to pay again in Greece for Dr Goitikas to cut my ITB band post lengthening.

Which one should i go for?

To those who have had ITB release and are getting Femurs lengthened, did you suffer from wide legs etc?

I would go for soft release as you will never know if you are one of the few persons who really Need it. Worst case is that you Need a secound surgery vs having an unnecessarily cutted IT Band from which you might suffer in the long term. The majority of Betz Patients didnt need it and the most are lengthening 8-10 cm.

[sixfootandhalf]

Thank you so much for the reply.

My knowledge is nothing compared to Dr Betz, and if he says something, i would trust him to be honest. He has true passion for his work.

But one question i had to ask is, why are so many who have had the soft ITB releases flying to Athens to get it done again? They are not complaining about the surgery - he does a phenomenal job. They have no issues with the nail - it is much improved. No issues with service - Dr Becker replies very quickly, and the team are brilliant.

If there was one thing they seem to say is, a lot of them are getting another ITB.

What is soft ITB and what is proper ITB?

[sixfootandhalf]

I would go for soft release as you will never know if you are one of the few persons who really Need it. Worst case is that you Need a secound surgery vs having an unnecessarily cutted IT Band from which you might suffer in the long term. The majority of Betz Patients didnt need it and the most are lengthening 8-10 cm.

What's the difference?

[RealLostSoul]

“Soft release” = more like multiple punctures
Else it’s a cut. “Z” cut is the most radical it band release and can instantly lengthen it by 6cm but is also the worst for long term. 
Until like 8cm soft should be enough. By then it could be healed and is tight again which in some patients requires second it band release (another soft is enough for it to be fine). It can be done without general anesthesia but still.. not the best to have another surgery.

I am curious how it’s going to turn out for me. I am fine now at almost 5cm but I am afraid that it will hit me later. I keep focusing on side stretches as of now to avoid problems.

[sixfootandhalf]

I think a few others on this site have publicly mentioned the surgery going exceptionally well, with amazing follow up, but the natural way the body heals, they feel massive tightness as they get to 7-8cm etc.

I genuinely don't mind getting a proper ITB release. If i go for 8cm, think about it, in 5-6 months, won't it have healed? I don't mind stretching and then being able to properly walk 1-2 months into lengthening vs having wide hips, massive duck ass

I'll be off work anyway, lengthening only, and stretching theoretically should be much smoother no?

[RealLostSoul]

I think a few others on this site have publicly mentioned the surgery going exceptionally well, with amazing follow up, but the natural way the body heals, they feel massive tightness as they get to 7-8cm etc.

I genuinely don't mind getting a proper ITB release. If i go for 8cm, think about it, in 5-6 months, won't it have healed? I don't mind stretching and then being able to properly walk 1-2 months into lengthening vs having wide hips, massive duck ass

I'll be off work anyway, lengthening only, and stretching theoretically should be much smoother no?

Duckass has nothing to do with it band. Wide legs is the only
It band related issue. It band will be healed much earlier which is the problem at 8+ cm as it is again becoming tight. With 8cm tbh I think it’s probably fine no matter what you get except no it band release which is foolish in my opinion

[sixfootandhalf]

Ah good point.

Btw, i think everyone should go for the full ITB release.

You are doing amazingly well and hope it continues, but i have pre-existing issues.

The recovery is not as bad as it seems for a full ITB release:

https://www.orthotrauma.com.au/procedures/knee/itb-release/

"Patients are usually walking reasonably comfortably by 2 weeks and by 6 weeks can generally commence running. It is important not to over-exert too early after the procedure as this can increase the discomfort and swelling. Gradual reintroduction of activities within levels of comfort is recommended."

If you are lengthening for 3-4 months and out of work for 6 months post surgery, while you're lengthening, that ITB itself is going to heal well anyway.

If you are aiming for 8cm or more of Femur lengthening, wide legs and stiffness is one of the biggest issues, and given it'll be 5-6 months post surgery before you will be walking near-normally again, getting it done initially won't change the outcome except save you wide legs etc

[sixfootandhalf]

any more thoughts?

[RealLostSoul]

At this point I think this post is talking about something fictional. Soft release is just a word they made up. Essentially they just use a different technique of cutting it. That‘s it.
I am at 8cm and I have 0 wide legs at all with soft release. Actually my It band and TFL at this point is one of the loosest, at least compared to quads.

My final thoughts on this is if they release it and you just do the training and stretches they tell you it is perfectly good. I am very satisfied with this type of release.