Started journey in 2014 with a proprietory rod from one of the former CIS countries. No Drs will be mentioned. Left leg did 7cm. A number of issues experienced with surgery resulting in 3 extra operations. I wasn't the only one. I saw other patients with similar issues and massive scars on legs. None of the key hole people talk about. Awoke under anaesthesia for about 5 min while a power drill was going into my bone, could not talk, blink, move, scream or anything. I'm not the only person who awoke under anaesthesia under this Dr. To this day original surgery issues exist which need to be resolved including piece of stray metal what looks like a washer floating around near left pelvis. Screw so long that it protrudes about 1 to 2cm outside the bone rubbing against the muscle, a screw which never even went through the nail hole, missed altogether. Got 7cm though but not a clean journey.
Right leg same CIS country device failed to work ie did not distract and as I later found out distracted randomly by itself. Non union. Subsequently device broke inside femur. Screws not broken only rod broken.
2015 in a western country this time removed broken CIS country rod. At this point bone refused to join. Bone atrophy starting. 6.5 hour operation to remove broken rod and insert internationally recognised standard nail. Cadavar bone graft attempted but subsequently failed. Non union. Then screw broke early 2016 due to ongoing non union.
Mid 2016 another 6.5 hour operation. Precise nail inserted through knee. Distracted 1.5cm in agony. Went to emergency. Bone was not fully cut through all the way by surgeon in Western country. Was pulling my bone apart with precise nail. Second surgery to cut bone all the way. Ultimately distracted 4cm to equalise legs (later found was insufficient) . New hip rod inserted and bone graft from pelvis. 2 rods in same leg. Very difficult to heal fracture high up near hip which resulted from CIS country rod. .every surgeon I met says the hardest area to achieve union is near hip. Nerve damage happened during surgery within my left leg which quite frankly was worse than the pain from distracting my right leg.
2019 today I finally have have union of both the left leg hip and where I distracted the precise nail. Right Leg still 1.5cm shorter than left leg. Will probably extend right leg again given precise nail already in right leg because I notice the difference.
How do I feel... Pain in knees when walking, still use single crutch, pain at hip site. Overgrowth of bone on hip causing pain I guess due to bone graft. Nerve pain in left leg but 50% better. For life now I guess.
What to be aware of.
1) you can get this done in a third world country but beware. What will you do if something goes wrong. Look at the CIS country rod design. The average surgeon cannot remove this. It's designed for a reason like this. My overall cost to date noting complications has been greater than if I spent the money once and did it properly in a first world country not to mention 5 years of disability.
2) I did nearly 7cm.i think that is too much. Probably 5 would have been better to keep agility.
Your pain tolerance will increase and I've been through a lot. Ask questions so I can help anyone with my experience.
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Topic: My Journey with different nails (Read 1286 times)