Rare and complicated leg-to-hand bone graft surgery at Traumatology and Orthopedics Hospital | Press release

Rare and complex surgery with leg-to-hand bone transplantation performed at Traumatology and Orthopedics Hospital

June 3, 2021.

The information was prepared by VSIA Traumatology and Orthopedics Hospital.

Surgeons at a trauma and orthopedic hospital have performed a complex bone transplant operation in which a patient has had a bone moved from a leg to an arm to replace a damaged upper arm bone.

A patient who suffered a fracture of the upper arm bone more than 10 years ago and failed several times in other medical institutions had inflamed shoulder bone, a bone defect, dislocated previously installed metal structures and caused bone damage. Such damage causes serious impairment of hand function and can threaten infection of the whole body, so the damaged bone and metal structures had to be removed during the first stage of the operation. To restore the functionality of the arm, the doctors performed the second stage operation – a small bony graft with a blood supply of 17 cm was taken from the patient and placed in the upper arm bone defect, where the graft was connected to the blood vessels of the arm. In addition, fix the bone fragments with a metal plate. The most difficult process was to connect the blood vessels and release the nerve in the spine, as damage and scarring had occurred during previous surgery.

Currently, the patient continues treatment at home and performs rehabilitation. In turn, the patient’s leg function is already fully restored.

This type of surgery is rare, but in the last month, TOS doctors have performed several more similar surgeries, in which patients have the wrist bones replaced with the bone part of the leg.

Such operations are possible in close cooperation with the medical team. The operation was performed by traumatologists – orthopedists Inese Breide and Mārtiņš Malzubris. The operation was assisted by dr. Grigoriev, dr. Raga and dr. Cherednichenko. Anesthesia was provided by dr. Sponge and anesthetist I. Zlaminova. Operating sisters I. Sadovska and J. Kalmikova.

Additional information:

VSIA Traumatology and Orthopedics Hospital

[email protected]

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