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[programdude]

I still have yet to have my first  x rays to see if I am properly lengthening. My biggest paranoia is the nail not working properly.

One thing I noticed is that when I use the magnet on my left leg there is a certain kind of sound/louder vibration that rthyhmically happens, usually towards the end of the lengthening that occurs. However when lengthening on my right side, although this noise has happened it is not with nearly the frequency or even every time. This just has me curious your experiences so I can assuage my fears about any potential issues,

[YellowSpike]

The only thing I can offer (as not having done LL yet) is that I know someone who did it with Precice 2, and he shared your concerns...but after his first checkup, all was well. So don't worry PD!

[Adriano]

Hi Guys.

I have a question.

Can precise 2 nails be re-used?

For example, could one use 1 nail to do both femurs one at a time?

[TRS]

Hi Guys.

I have a question.

Can precise 2 nails be re-used?

For example, could one use 1 nail to do both femurs one at a time?

Provided that both your femur canals are of same width and that your nail works fine after the first use, then I see no problem in reusing the same nail. But one can question the weight bearing capability and the mechanical ability to lengthen against muscle tension due to wear and tear from the first use.
This is a very good question and it's best that the surgeon who specialises with the PRECICE2 nail answers your question.
How great would it be if you could lengthen one femur with the PRECICE2 nail, remove the nail and insert a titanium nail and then reuse the PRECICE2 nail on the other femur

[123]

Hi Guys.

I have a question.

Can precise 2 nails be re-used?

For example, could one use 1 nail to do both femurs one at a time?

Exfix can be re-used but not internal nails because of the risk of infection. That's a at least what my doc told me.

[TRS]

Exfix can be re-used but not internal nails because of the risk of infection. That's a at least what my doc told me.

Risk of infection does make sense. Maybe sterilisation and immediate surgical insertion would make the nail reusable?
But having deep infection or osteomyelitis is devastating and not worth the risk of having the same nail reinserted!

[123]

Risk of infection does make sense. Maybe sterilisation and immediate surgical insertion would make the nail reusable?
But having deep infection or osteomyelitis is devastating and not worth the risk of having the same nail reinserted!

Nah, way too risky in my opinion and if it was possible I think many docs would do that, but they don't so there has to be a reason why

[programdude]

I can confirm that the issue I mentioned ended up being irrelevant.

However Paley and my PT both said they had never heard of that particular kind of phenomena. Just other sounds.

[TomD]

Exfix can be re-used but not internal nails because of the risk of infection. That's a at least what my doc told me.

What kind of infection can withstand a 900 degree boiling ? We do have the technology to clean items. They can sterilize just about anything but not this nail?

[Franz]

The issue is not sterility, but reliability of the reused nail. The mechanical stresses imparted due to limb lengthening are massive and the nail will possibly behave unpredictably if reused. Nobody knows whether the gear mechanism can withstand the first distraction, then compression and re-distraction. The problem is if it was done as a cost-saving measure it probably means theres a limited budget. This means that if the nail fails with the second leg and there is no money for a new nail, then the patient will be left with a discrepancy in length between the two sides of 6-7 cm. This is dangerous and not acceptable.
If cost is a major factor, rather shoot for exfix only tibias. The cost is around half the price of precice femurs.