Limb Lengthening with the Precice 2 method
The nails that are used in the lengthening surgery with the Precice 2 method, are made out of a composition of titanium which has high resistance. It’s an extremely innovator and safe system that helps the bones to grow taller under control. The nails are placed inside the bone and the lengthening happens from the outside of the leg with the help of an external remote controller (ERC). This ERC provides 1 mm of lengthening a day through the magnets inside the nail.
Technical Features and Functions of the Nail
- Mechanism of Magnetic Control: the most important feature of the Precice 2 nail is the fact that it helps gradually lengthening with a remote controller that has a magnetic structure. Thanks to this feature, patients can comfortably manage the lengthening process in their daily lives.
- Sensitive Lengthening: Daily lengthening amount can be arranged according to the pain condition and bone union of the patient. Besides the bones, this also makes it possible for the muscles and the nerves around the bone to adapt the lengthening speed.
- High Resistance: the titanium composed structure of the nail is designed biocompatible and everlasting so that it can stay a long time inside the body. This material also minimalizes the risk of any allergic reaction inside the bone.
Equipments used in the Precice Method
External Remote Controller (ERC);
Intramedullary Nail;
It’s a technologically advanced method of internally fixating that is used in limb-lengthening surgeries. Being made out of composed titanium, the nail both provides high resistance and is compatible with the body tissues. Which means it can be used for a long time without problem. The size of the nail is chosen according to the bone structure of the patient and it is generally 8,5 mm, 10,7 mm, 11,5 mm or 12,5 mm. During the selection process, the doctor examines the x-ray displays and decides on the most suitable nail size based on the bone thickness and structure of the patient.
During the surgery, intramedullar nail is surgically placed inside the bone. This operation makes it possible for the lengthening process to go on stabile and safe by preserving the resistance of the bone. Thanks to the light and strong structure of the titanium; the nail makes daily life easier and minimalizes the risk of complication by providing a comfortable lengthening inside the bone.
Important Information: Patients weighing about 40-70 kg can walk with the support of a walker depending on the size of the nail under doctor’s observation. But it is very crucial to not put too much weight on the nail. For example, patients are only allowed to walk limitedly for controlled activities such as physiotherapy sessions, going to the toilet or short walking exercises.
Other than that, using a wheelchair during the lengthening process is mandatory because the patient needs to be careful with the weight capacity of the nail. Otherwise, putting too much pressure on the legs might result in damage in the nail mechanism or since the newly forming bone tissue will not be as qualified as it should be, the treatment process might get risky.
Two Surgeries with Precice 2
If the Precice method is chosen for the lengthening surgery, there will be two surgeries conducted.
- Limb lengthening surgery/preparation for the surgery; First of all, the size of the nail which will be the best suitable for the bone structure of the patient is determined by evaluating the general health condition and getting x-rays that are needed. This planning is done according to the bone structure and lengthening goals of the patient.
Surgical Placement: in this surgery that is conducted under anesthesia, the bone gets cut on the surface. This cut provides the space that is needed for the bone to lengthen. After that, the Precice 2 nail that was previously chosen gets placed inside the bone and is safely implanted there.
The controlling of the nail by the remote controller: after the surgery, the recovery process starts and the lengthening is made while the bone tissues are healing. During this process, patients can lengthen the bone gradually by pressing the ERC button on the remote controller. The gradual lengthening is 3 times a day and 0,99 mm. (0,33 mm x 3)
Recovering and the tracking process: Throughout the process the scar care and medicine track is done. With the x-ray displays, the healing condition and union speed of the bone gets controlled. The regular and right physiotherapy helps the muscles and joint structure to adapt the lengthening process. This treatment helps the patient to go back to their social life safely and healthily. When the bone has united completely, the doctor suggests removing the nails as they are magnetic. - Surgery of Removing the Intramedullar Nail: when the bone union has completely been done, with the suggestion of the doctor and the requirement of the patient; the intramedullar nail gets removed. As a result of a 2-2,5 hours of operation the nails get completely removed. The first 2 weeks the patient walks with an assist in order to avoid any problems, but after those 2 weeks they can fully go back to their daily lives.
What are the advantages of the Precice 2 method?
- Minimal invasive system: since there aren’t any external fixators used, the risk of infection and irritations that may occur on skin are minimal. The nail is directly placed inside the bone which means there won’t be any scar left and patients can experience a more comfortable recovery process.
- Comfortable and less risky recovery process: since the nail of the precice 2 method is placed inside the boned, it doesn’t lead to much pain and provides a quicker recovery. Muscles, nerves and connective tissues can adapt easily because the lengthening is done controlled and gradually.
- Dual usage: precice 2 can be securely used on both femur (upper leg) and tibia (lower leg). Which provides a variety of opportunities for those who wish for different lengthening goals.
- High Security: the precice 2 nail which is made of titanium composition is biocompatible which means it can stay inside the bone for a long time without a problem. Besides, the meticulous design of inner constituent ensures the resistance of the nail for a longtime without getting damage.
- Adaptable with daily life: it offers an opportunity to move with a wheelchair or a walker during the lengthening process. The inner structure of the nail makes it possible for the patients whose weight is suitable to walk shortly; which helps the process to go on easier.
- Low infection risk: since there is no external fixator, the patients can take a shower whenever they want, the infection and complication risks are very low. Thus, the precice 2 method stands out as a safe option.
What are the disadvantages of the Precice 2 method?
- High cost: the Precice 2 method costs more than the other lengthening methods because of the technology it uses and the comfort it provides. This might create an economic problem for some patients.
- Limited amount weight: the amount of weight the precice 2 nail can carry is limited. Patients have to do the activities restricted and they can only put a little weight on in order not to force the nail. Therefore, it requires the usage of a wheelchair or a walker.
- The requirement of a second surgery: After the lengthening and recovery process is done completely, a second surgery is needed in order to remove the nail. Even though this operation is short, it still requires a recovery period.
- Limited lengthening capacity: since the capacity of the nail is 8 cm, 7 or 8 cm of lengthening happens with a single surgery. For those who wish for more lengthening would have to get additional surgery which makes the recovery process longer and increases the cost.
- Risks and complications: even though the precice method is minimal invasive, there are still some risks such as bone nonunion, infection or pain. Conditions like bending nail or the bones not uniting quick enough are not often but they are among the risks.
- Device malfunction: even though the nail of the precice 2 method has advanced technology, since it works with magnetic system there is a risk of malfunction. In the case of a malfunction, additional intervention might be needed and this might extend the recovery process.
- Psychological effects: a long process of treatment and movement restriction may affect the mental condition of the patients. The recovery process after the surgery may create stress, loss of motivation or emotional difficulties on the patient.
- Requirement of expertness: the precice 2 method requires an advanced level of expertness and knowledge of device. Therefore, not every orthopedic surgeon can conduct this surgery. Finding an experienced surgeon might be difficult and a surgery made by a doctor who is not capable enough might increase the risk of complication.
Precice 2 Method is Chosen a Lot By Our Patients Because of:
- Comfortable recovery process: since there is no external fixators. Precice 2 offers more comfortability and does not leave any scar on skin. This feature helps the patients adapt to their daily life more easily.
- Minimal risk of infection: precice 2 method is completely an internal fixating system and the risk of infection that is seen with other methods are very low in this one. Thus, this is a huge opportunity and advantage for patients who want to avoid the risk of infection.
- Aesthetical advantages: the precice 2 nail is placed inside the bone and there are no visible devices on the outside. This aesthetical advantage is a reason of preference for the patients who wish for no or less visible scars or marks on skin.
- Less amount of stress: the aesthetical concerns external fixators may create during long recovery process do not exist with precice 2 method. Due to internal fixating, the patiets experience less stress and get by the recovery process more confident.
As a few incisions are made for each leg compared to the classical methods, the scar marks will not be notable too much. The surgical wounds are stitched with dissolvable sutures and covered with waterproof dressings. Nevertheless, the scar marks will fade away as time passes by, and will not be eyeful. Especially, our surgeon ties off stitches aesthetically. If you think you may have sensitive skin against scar marks, you may find out some useful tips for the ways of minimizing the scar marks by watching the by watching the video on our youtube channel.
As any other surgery, there are always risks and complications that might occur. As long as the doctor applies the right technique, the hygienic environment is established at the hospital, and proper post-operative care is provided, the risks and the complications are preventable and treatable. As Wannabtaller Team, the first priority is always patients’ safety for us. Yet, every person has unique physiology and some unpredictable conditions might occur such as non bone union or slow bone union. You may visit our blog writing to find out more information related to this issue; “Limb lengthening Side effects, Complications and Risks”
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yunus Öç(Istanbul, TURKEY) – 22,850$ LON method, 46,000$ intramedullary nail (PRECICE 2.2), Precice Stryde, 22,850$ limb shortening surgery
- Dr. Paley (the USA) – Bilateral femur lengthening (up to 8 cm of height; cost $97,500 USD,PRECICE-Stryde) / Bilateral tibia lengthening (up to 5 cm of height; cost $109,000 USD, PRECICE-Stryde)
- Dr. Jacob Rozbruch (the USA) – $125,000 (Femur or Tibia) / Nail Removal Fee: $20,000 (Femur or Tibia)
- Dr. Shahab Mahboubian (Hollywood CA, the USA) – Bilateral femur lengthening (Precise nail) – $75,000, Bilateral tibia lengthening (Precise nail) – $85,000 & Combined tibia and femur lengthening 3-4 weeks apart – $155,000
How long should I stay for this operation?
Limb lengthening surgery is not an easy operation. When the broken bones and the healing process is considered, the patients need to spare much time for this. Especially the first three months are very important for them to get through as healthily as possible. It is required for the lengthening process to be observed by the doctors closely for the sake of recovering and health of the patient. Besides all of these, patients need to get convenient physiotherapy sessions from an expert who knows the limb lengthening process. Patients who want to get limb lengthening surgery need to stay here for at least 3-4 months when these factors are considered. Despite all these factors, the patient can stay at home but has to abide by the exercising program with their own therapist and should not ignore getting x-ray regularly.
We provide patient accommodation, post-operative care, and physiotherapy services at Blue Vista Hotel. For other accommodation facilities and prices, please visit Accommodation services page.
- Accommodation + 3 meals/day
- Physiotherapy (20 sessions a month)
- X-rays, tests & examinations
- Medications
- Psychologic Counselling Service (Twice a month)
- Dietitian Services (Twice a month)
- Fitness, Free WI-FI internet, daily room cleaning, clean towels, and linen changes
- Activities outside the hotel and special tours for the patients to relax, breathe, and increase their motivation once a month
All inclusive: 4,550$ 3,550$/ per month
(3 month-package: 10,450$)
Conclusion
Limb lengthening surgery with the LON method is a modern and effective option for accelerating the recovery process and enhancing patient comfort. This method allows you to achieve your desired height safely. For detailed information about the entire process and to create a personalized treatment plan, feel free to contact our expert team. You can reach us via email, social media accounts, or our WhatsApp line for any questions or requests. We are happy to guide you in achieving your goals!
Phone & WhatsApp: +90 531 988 3090
Email: support@wannabetaller.com
Instagram: @wannabetaller
