Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology
Led by Dr Franz Birkholtz, MBChB (University of Pretoria, 1997); MMed (Orth) (University of Pretoria, 2006); FC Orth (SA) (Colleges of Medicine, 2006); HPCSA MP0484121. Orthopaedic Surgeon, CEO of IOR
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About Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology
Dr Franz Birkholtz, MBChB (University of Pretoria, 1997), MMed (Orth), FC Orth (SA), an orthopaedic surgeon and CEO of the Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology, now operates exclusively from Mediclinic Winelands Orthopaedic Hospital in Stellenbosch, South Africa, a practice dating to 1996. Methods listed are PRECICE 2, LON, Ilizarov and the Taylor Spatial Frame, with cosmetic stature lengthening named on his procedure list. BizCommunity reported his May 2013 PRECICE operation in Centurion as the first in Africa, and he co-authored a 2016 SciELO SA paper on early South African PRECICE cases with Dr Phillip de Lange.
No price is published. Older listings still say Pretoria; the current location is Stellenbosch. No accreditations are recorded, and rehabilitation is not documented beyond accommodation at the Ascend Recovery facility, bundled with airport transfers in surgical packages. Virtual consultations are offered; the Stellenbosch Google listing shows 5.0 from 12 reviews.
Clinic slug references 'Pretoria' but surgeon now operates exclusively from Stellenbosch (IOR / Mediclinic Winelands). Slug should be updated to reflect Stellenbosch location. Walk-A-Mile Centre (Centurion) is historical predecessor practice. Google Places returns two listings: Stellenbosch (5.0/12) and legacy Centurion listing (5.0/6). No Trustpilot profile found.
What the clinic states
Taken directly from the clinic’s own website. Details can change — confirm with the clinic before you travel.
- Notes
- Dr Franz Birkholtz at Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology (IOR), Mediclinic Winelands Orthopaedic Hospital, Stellenbosch. Additional emails dr.fbirkholtz@ior.health and accounts.fbirkholtz@ior.health. Phone +27 (0)21 861 6420, accounts +27 (0)79 880 3854. Consultations via contact form; no online booking or price published.
Source: clinic website · verified 2026-07-11.
Why we listed this clinic
Dr Birkholtz performed Africa's first PRECICE intramedullary nail limb-lengthening surgery in May 2013 at Netcare Unitas Hospital, Centurion, a milestone reported by BizCommunity. His Pretoria practice was formally recognised as an international training centre for external fixation. He published the first South African PRECICE outcomes paper (SciELO SA, 2016, co-authored with Dr Phillip de Lange), reporting 103% distraction accuracy across 11 lengthened segments with no major complications. No_photos flag resolved with a clinic-owned headshot (ior.health). Confirmed current professional-society affiliations: South African Orthopaedic Association, South African Lengthening and Limb Reconstruction Society, British Limb Reconstruction Society, South African Orthopaedic Trauma Society, plus a Stellenbosch University academic affiliation.
Videos & surgeon interviews
Videos surfaced from public YouTube search for this clinic and its lead surgeon. We do not own or pre-screen this content.
Cross-source coverage
We surface independent search results so you can verify the clinic exists outside its own marketing. Click any source to read it in full — we don't edit or endorse third-party content.
Dr. Franz Birkholtz. ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON. Dr. Franz Birkholtz. MBChB, MMed (Orth), FC Orth (SA). Dr. Franz Birkholtz. Innovative surgical expertise with a focus ...
Dr Franz Birkholtz is a fully registered orthopaedic surgeon in Stellenbosch with more than 20 years of experience in orthopaedic surgery.
Dr. Franz Birkholtz - a world-class limb lengthening and deformity reconstruction surgeon based in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Orthopaedic trauma, limb reconstruction, limb lengthening and foot and ankle surgery. ... Dr Franz Birkholtz, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Institute of ...
Re: Dr Franz Birkholtz (Pretoria, South Africa) ... Dr. Birkholtz is an honest man and a good doctor as can be seen from his posting. Yes indeed, ...
Methods offered
- PRECICE 2Read about PRECICE 2 →
- LONRead about LON →
- IlizarovRead about Ilizarov →
- TSFRead about TSF →
Surgeons
Dr Franz Birkholtz, MBChB (University of Pretoria, 1997); MMed (Orth) (University of Pretoria, 2006); FC Orth (SA) (Colleges of Medicine, 2006); HPCSA MP0484121Orthopaedic Surgeon, CEO of IORPerforms: Limb Lengthening · Limb Reconstruction · Cosmetic Stature Lengthening · Deformity Correction · Osseointegration Limb Replacement · Foot and Ankle Surgery · Complex TraumaView profile →
Compare with every other leg lengthening surgeon in the directory.
International patient services
Virtual consultations offered; airport transfers and accommodation at Ascend Recovery facility included in surgical packages; patients from multiple countries served through IOR international programme.
Common questions about Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology
Answers are built from this clinic's verified record — not from the clinic's marketing.
How do patients rate Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology?
Across independent platforms Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology holds Google 5.0/5 (15 reviews); RateMDs 4.3/5 (13 reviews). We show each platform separately rather than blending them into one score; figures were last checked 2026-09-11. Read the reviews themselves, not just the number — limb lengthening reviews cluster at the extremes.
How much does limb lengthening cost at Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology?
Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology does not publish a price, and we do not invent one. Comparable South Africa clinics in this directory range widely by method; use the cost estimator or contact the clinic for a written quote before travelling.
Which limb lengthening methods does Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology offer?
Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology lists PRECICE 2, LON, Ilizarov, TSF. The lead surgeon on record is Dr. Franz Birkholtz (MBChB (University of Pretoria, 1997); MMed (Orth) (University of Pretoria, 2006); FC Orth (SA) (Colleges of Medicine, 2006); HPCSA MP0484121), listed for limb lengthening, limb reconstruction, cosmetic stature lengthening. Each method page on this site explains how the device works, typical gain and the trade-offs.
What does recovery look like after surgery at Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology?
Distraction runs at roughly 1 mm per day for 4–8 weeks, consolidation takes another 3–6 months while the new bone hardens, and physiotherapy-led return to full activity is usually 6–12 months from surgery. Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology offers more than one device type (PRECICE 2, LON, Ilizarov, TSF), and the recovery curve differs between them: internal nails allow earlier weight-bearing, external frames need pin-site care until removal. Ask which protocol applies to your case.
Does Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology treat international patients?
Virtual consultations offered; airport transfers and accommodation at Ascend Recovery facility included in surgical packages; patients from multiple countries served through IOR international programme. Consultation languages on record: English, Afrikaans.
How was Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology verified for this directory?
Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology is listed at Tier 1 — we cross-checked surgeon credentials, hospital affiliation, regulatory status and published outcomes against independent sources. We hold 7 source URLs for this entry. Last verified 2026-09-11. The clinic cannot pay to change its tier, ranking or reviews; paid options only affect presentation and are always labelled.
Where is Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology and where are operations performed?
Dr Franz Birkholtz Orthopaedics / Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology is in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Hospital affiliation on record: Mediclinic Winelands Orthopaedic Hospital, Stellenbosch (also previously Walk-A-Mile Centre, Netcare Unitas Hospital, Centurion) Established 1996.
How we verified this clinic
- Tier
- Tier 1 — fully researched
- Last verified
- 2 days ago
- Hospital affiliation
- Mediclinic Winelands Orthopaedic Hospital, Stellenbosch (also previously Walk-A-Mile Centre, Netcare Unitas Hospital, Centurion)
- Established
- 1996
- Languages at consultation
- English, Afrikaans
Verification covers: named surgeon credentials, hospital affiliation, methods offered, public-facing website, and regulatory status. We re-verify quarterly. If a clinic fails a re-verification, we add an editorial note or demote its tier — we do not quietly remove it.
Independence: this clinic cannot pay to change its ranking, Directory Score, tier, or reviews. Paid options affect presentation only and are always labeled. We take no commission and charge no per-patient fee. Editorial policy.
This directory is editorial. It is not medical advice, an endorsement, or a substitute for consultation with a qualified surgeon. Pricing and availability change — always verify directly with the clinic before making decisions.