Dr. Yunus Oc – Femur WBT for Height Reduction

The Concern:

It is unsafe for patients to be discharged within three days following this limb lengthening surgery. My only complaint is regarding this practice. The doctor suggested leaving for the hotel after 3 days, with an option to stay for 5 days. I personally required the full 5 days for recovery. I believe it is crucial for all patients to have the opportunity to stay for 5 days to ensure their safety, even if their recovery seems satisfactory. Despite the hospital food not being the best, it is essential to take full advantage of the medical staff’s support during this significant surgery because once you depart, you are much more independent.

I experienced a loss of 2.5-3 cm in height. While my initial height was 172.5-173 cm, my final height measured 169.5-170 cm. This outcome was somewhat disappointing as I had hoped for a greater reduction. The discrepancy between the 4 cm bone lengthening I requested and the actual height loss could be attributed to muscle contracture, spinal compression, or prior leg misalignment. It should be noted that losing 4.1 cm of the femur does not necessarily translate to a 4.1 cm reduction in overall height. Reflecting on this, I might have urged the doctor to aim for closer to a 5 cm lengthening, despite potential disproportions.

Regarding the caretaker, a troubling incident occurred involving one of the hospital staff members who sexually assaulted me and another female patient. The individual deceived us by pretending to be friendly but was, in fact, a predator. The company took action by removing him, yet I remain perplexed and concerned about the resolution process outlined by the quality control manager. I strongly feel that the company should provide me with further details on this matter. His inappropriate actions, such as taking photos of me while sleeping, making advances towards the other patient, and intruding into our rooms late at night, were distressing and unexpected. I confided in Jana about these incidents, and although measures were taken to restrict his access to the hotel premises, his actions continued to cause distress. It is imperative that this individual is not allowed near any patients in the future.

Having a nurse available daily is crucial due to the potential risks associated with such surgeries. Patients, especially those with fixators, require consistent support in case of complications. The absence of clear communication regarding nurse visits during the transition period when our nurse, Aylis, was absent, resulted in some patients missing their essential care. This situation needs urgent improvement to ensure all patients receive the necessary attention. Additionally, separating the nurse area from the physiotherapy room is advisable to prevent easy patient access to medical equipment. The cramped and inadequately ventilated physio room poses challenges, and efforts should be made to enhance its conditions for patients’ comfort and recovery.

There are pressing concerns about the hotel breakfast, particularly due to a severe fly infestation issue. The presence of maggots in food dishes is unacceptable, considering the financial investment patients make in their accommodations. The company should promptly address this issue with Days Inn to uphold hygienic standards. Furthermore, wheelchair accessibility at the hotel requires significant enhancements. Facilities such as ramps should be installed to allow wheelchair users to access all areas easily. The current design limitations hinder mobility and independence, posing unnecessary obstacles for individuals in wheelchairs. Advocacy for improved wheelchair accommodation is essential for ensuring equal access and inclusivity for all guests.

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After departing from Turkey, I have returned home. Commencing now is the subsequent phase of my recovery, during which I will likely utilize this thread for recording my progress and elaborating on the assessments of my orthopedic physicians in the US concerning my healing process. I may have omitted certain details, and should you have any inquiries, I am willing to address them.

Would I endorse this surgery? Affirmative. I admire the physician, and for the most part, I found the staff satisfactory. The procedure is challenging, and tears were shed abundantly. It is mentally and physically exhausting, leading to instances of profound despondency, yet I did perceive a sense of assistance. Areas necessitating enhancement exist, requiring immediate attention to ensure the most favorable patient journey. I noticed some patients had positive encounters, while others faced challenges of their own.

Should anyone require x-ray images or any other material, feel free to request, and I can upload them here.

I have taken careful note of all your very clear and reasonable feedback and criticisms. I do not purport to be able to address them all immediately. Nonetheless, they will all be considered and we will endeavor to identify and apply solutions as promptly as possible.
I kindly request permission to elaborate on any confusion and disappointment you may have experienced due to the statements I made concerning the harassment you endured.

As expressed in response to another of your comments, our priority was to terminate ties with the caretaker without delay, and we acted on this promptly. The harassment complaints from you came to us shortly before our discussion with the caretaker. We required time to verify these claims since severing relations with him based solely on an accusation could expose us to legal repercussions. Without clear confirmation in a legal and professional context, we could not act promptly. An untimely action could have resulted in a lawsuit against us, accusing us of defamation, a claim he had already made, needlessly protracting the process. Article 267 of the Turkish Penal Code states: “If simple slander is committed, the offender is punishable by imprisonment from one year to four years.” I am not insinuating that you are slandering him; please do not misconstrue my words. I am simply explaining that it would not have been beneficial for us, either legally or professionally, to act solely on patient claims without conclusive evidence. We possessed solid and professional evidence to sever our ties with him, which he could not refute or contest. Consequently, we achieved a resolution that directed him away from you and our other patients in adherence to labor regulations. Personally, I unequivocally condemn any form of harassment. If queried, I would advocate for stringent measures against all perpetrators. Nevertheless, in a situation where conflicting claims exist between parties, our role is to refer them to the appropriate legal authority. Regrettably, as you are aware, the company’s actions are bounded by legal constraints due to its official standing. I trust this clarification better elucidates my stance.
Once again, thank you for your valuable feedback.

Yours sincerely,
Necmettin Turan

I appreciate your response – It assists me in gaining further insight. The fact that he was entering my / the other girl’s room after 10-11 is questionable. Without a valid explanation for being there, his denial becomes challenging. Was there a reason provided for his late-night visits to two girls’ rooms? What occurred in my room and in the elevator (unless there are cameras) is challenging to substantiate beyond our assertions and those of the other girls, as there are no cameras inside the rooms, only outside. Nevertheless, there were inappropriate messages exchanged with the other girl, who mentioned having captured some screenshots, including a declaration of love and willingness to leave his job to be with her. He exhibited some of these messages to me before erasing all traces. Kindly request these from her to establish a record. Hopefully, his entries into our rooms are recorded on the hotel cameras, as well as his acquisition of the master card for room access. His deletion of all WhatsApp conversations with her raises suspicions. It’s perplexing why he took this action if he had no secrets to conceal. – Unsure if recovery is possible, but if achieved, it could easily implicate him.

We are grateful to you for this statement.

Upon questioning about the accusations, the individual promptly refuted them entirely, alleging that you betrayed him and expressing a desire to address the allegations with you. He even mentioned the possibility of legal action against you. That was the extent of the situation. (I doubt he can provide any plausible explanation based on the information you have disclosed.)

We also underscored that both individuals inherently possess such a right and are at liberty in this context; hence, the resolution lies within the discretion of the involved parties.

I would like him to take legal action against me and the other girl, allowing a court to request his texts and actions from the hotel video via his phone. It is undoubtedly an idle threat. In the future, if someone refutes such allegations, they should be presented with the video showing him entering the room on camera and be asked for an explanation. He cannot reject irrefutable evidence of him on video entering my room (there was a camera directly outside it). Although you are a separate entity, ensuring patients’ safety from predators and advocating on our behalf is crucial. When he intruded into my room without consent, I was mostly unclothed under the covers and felt extremely vulnerable. I had no means to defend myself in that scenario. Sharing with Jana what occurred with him, despite my initial fear of reporting him to the company, is something I do not regret. She actually learned about his behavior from another patient and sought clarification from me on the matter. That is all I wish to discuss regarding his actions because dealing with it is still somewhat challenging for me and was only a small part of my experience. Overall, I do recommend WBT and believe that my experience was positive (as positive as it can be with two broken femurs), and that the doctor is knowledgeable about the procedure and executes it precisely. My recovery is progressing well, and my range of motion is continually improving.

So if I understand correctly, is this woman 172 cm tall but chose to shorten her femurs to 168 cm? Is this a joke? On what planet do you reside?

In case his level of confidence matches yours, he could contemplate initiating legal action. I hope he takes that step to reveal the truth. However, I doubt he will proceed, and we likely understand the reason behind his hesitation. It was valuable that you disclosed your encounters with your advisor, enhancing our alertness and readiness for unfavorable circumstances. Presently, our agreement incorporates provisions safeguarding both the patient and the staff from harassment, abuse, and undesirable conduct. The essential requirement is to obtain “formal verification” that empowers us to implement these regulations effectively. Our focus will be on strategies that can furnish us with this substantiation.

I appreciate your transmission of constructive critiques and favorable remarks to us. Take care…