Charite ADR with Dr. Fabien Bitan

** This post is not intended to verbally abuse any doctor or hospital organization. **

Good Morning everyone,
I'm new to this message board, so I apologize for my brief disclaimer. My girlfriend and I will be making a visit to see Dr. Fabien Bitan in NYC in two weeks to discuss her options of having the Charite ADR surgery for her L5/S1 disc. We currently live in Arlington, VA and her doctor is with the Virginia Spine Institute in Reston, VA. She has previously lived in Dallas and frequently visited the Texas Back Institute as well.

Without going into further detail, does anyone have any experiences they would like to share of visiting Dr. Fabien Bitan? If anyone has any negative feedback they feel they would like to provide, please do not post here, but send me a private message.

Thanks so much, and good luck to those recovering or looking forward to surgery!

Kind regards,

Jeff Danto

ive heard nothing but good about Dr. Bitan
hes one of the best charite adr surgeons. im sure all will be ok fine
best wishes
chuck

[Kim]

Jeff
I have consulted with Dr Bitan and talked to him personally on the phone etc. I have found him so far to be very pleasant, easy to talk to, answered questions without being in a rush etc.
I went through Mark M at *** to talk with Dr Bitan, Dr B in Germany and Dr Yue about the Activ L studies.
I was very impressed with both him and his office staff who I have talked to on the phone as well concerning scheduling surgery with him at his office. I had spoken with another board member here who had her surgery about 6 months or so ago with him and had nothing but good things to say about them.
They are very used to out of town or state patients and have gone out of their way to help us make this trip and if we decide to do the surgery as easy as possible for us!
I can say that I have not experienced the same thing with others offices, I will not mention names but I have also seen in person some of the same people that your gf has.
I am still trying to make some final decisions here but from what I see it looks like I may be going to Dr Bitan in June for surgery if all works out ok.
I hope this helps if you would like to PM me for particular details feel free.
Kim

Best of luck to you. i remember the stress for a year leading up to my appt with Dr. Gurr. "What if he says he wont do it?" "How do i make sure he understands the pain I am in?" The uncertainty can be very stressful. I will pray all goes well.

i found this older news clipping from the ny daily news about dr bitan work http://www.nydailynews.com/07-28-200...p-186163c.html
chuck

[Eddie_G]

If it's a Charite that you want, then Bitan is the MAN! You're lucky to get him. He has thousands under his belt!

I prefer the Prodisc so I'm holding out until summer. I have Dr. Jeff Goldstein.

Keep doing research, you're on the right track if your train stopped at Bitan. Good Luck!

[Justin]

He has thousands under his belt!

Eddie,

I was unaware that Dr. Bitan had this many ADR surgeries under his belt. Can you elaborate?

Justin

[Harrison]

No one is the US has done thousands!

[Texas-T]

Thanks guys. I asked him how many ADR's he's performed and he said about 400 of the Charite, but he didn't know the exact number. In addition he has performed several ADR revision's (from patient's who recieved bad ADR's from other doctors) etc.

[Eddie_G]

I know he hasn't done thousands in the USA but from what I've heard he HAS done a couple thousand in Europe. Let me know if I'm wrong but thats what I have heard. The 400 may just be the number he has done in the USA.

Anyone doing this since the 80's has signifigant experience.