Quote from: Franz on February 25, 2014, 09:33:18 PMThis is a very good question. Firstly, lengthening and limb reconstruction is a long-time interest. I just love the magic that happens when you create new tissue from nothing - like magic.
The ethical question is more complex. I guess I have a sort of reverse ethical opinion about this. My take is not whether it is ethical to perform the surgery, but whether it is ethical not to. You see, I know I can lengthen patients safely with relatively low complication risks and I do that almost daily. I also know that there are individuals who will get CLL no matter what the risk. They often end up with the wrong doctors and end up losing function etc. If I have the tools, skills and capabilities, am I not unethical by not preventing these disasters?
Anyway, this is controversial, but there's my 5 cents worth...
Even I've decided to do CLL, there is always smth that boders me about it especially when u're reading diaries from patients who went through agony. Reading Your posts dr. Birkholtz I become more and more confident in doing CLL. I wish all the doctors are like You! From what I've been reading here on forum I can say You are such a great doctor and I love how You behave and act as a human being.
Dr Franz Birkholtz (Pretoria, South Africa)
Hitting the nail on its head.
Quote from: Franz on February 25, 2014, 09:33:18 PMMy take is not whether it is ethical to perform the surgery, but whether it is ethical not to...
Quote from: mediocre on February 26, 2014, 06:47:09 AMHitting the nail on its head.
Hitting the bone with the osteotome! haha
Exactly! 
Quote from: Arche on February 26, 2014, 04:08:41 PMHitting the bone with the osteotome! haha
Quote from: Franz on February 15, 2014, 05:56:52 PMHi guys,
We've spent the last week number crunching and obtaining quotes from the relevant service providers.
Our cost for bilateral precice lengthening is 52K USD. This includes the following:
All professional fees for surgeon, anaesthetist, physio, psychologist, occupational therapist.
High care unit for 1 day.
Normal hospital ward for 5 days.
All followup visits, erc sessions and woundcare visits.
Daily physio for 75 days.
Doctor contact at least twice a week.
Support by a multi disciplinary team experienced in limb reconstruction.
Accommodation in a four star rated guesthouse close to hospital on a dinner bed and breakfast basis. Includes wifi and satellite tv. Also includes daily transfer to clinic for adjustments. The accommodation is for two people. This is a self catering unit.
As you can see, everything is included, except for potential complications.
Our lists are generally booked a couple of weeks in advance, but provided I am not on congress or holiday, we can accommodate most of the year.
It would be super nice if you can post some pictures of the guest house. If I decide to go through 2 operations with you, could it be possible for me to have some discounts?
The guesthouse link is posted on BigD's thread
http://www.natanja.co.za/
Are you thinking of Precice 2 for both femur and tibia? Or Precice 2 femur and tibial LON?
Quote from: Daylight on February 26, 2014, 04:19:51 PMIt would be super nice if you can post some pictures of the guest house. If I decide to go through 2 operations with you, could it be possible for me to have some discounts?
Quote from: TheRisingShorty on February 26, 2014, 03:34:29 PMHey Dr Birkholtz!
For the last several years, I have made a transition to a lacto-vegetarian diet for personal reasons.
My diet includes wide range of grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables/fruits, milk, soya products etc.
I am wondering if this would affect me during CLL and also whether the guest house you mentioned earlier provide vegetarian meals?
Your diet will not be a problem provided you take enough calcium magnesium vit c and d.
Quote from: TheRisingShorty on February 26, 2014, 03:34:29 PMHey Dr Birkholtz!
For the last several years, I have made a transition to a lacto-vegetarian diet for personal reasons.
My diet includes wide range of grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables/fruits, milk, soya products etc.
I am wondering if this would affect me during CLL and also whether the guest house you mentioned earlier provide vegetarian meals?
With enough lead time, I am sure your requirements could be accommodated. Within reason.
Quote from: Daylight on February 26, 2014, 04:19:51 PMIt would be super nice if you can post some pictures of the guest house. If I decide to go through 2 operations with you, could it be possible for me to have some discounts?
Look at www.natanja.co.za
My prices are mostly dependent on subcontractors. My practice sees around 10% of the cost quoted. I have no financial interest in the xrays, hospital, nails, guesthouse etc, so the price is essentially already cost price. This is why it is cheaper than anywhere else in the world for a similar service. I hope you can understand that discounts under these circumstances are virtually impossible.
Hey Dr Franz. If I want to arrange for personal consultation by April, do I just arrange it with madelein?
I'm planning on staying in Pretoria for a couple of days tour and at the same time consultation with you and also do my bone x-ray there.
This is of course if my April dates would be okay with your schedule.
Thanks.
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