Dubai
A 14-year old Kuwaiti boy who’s hip joint was wasting away following a case of road trauma, underwent a hip replacement surgery in Dubai that miraculously gave him back normal mobility within a couple of days.
Abdul Aziz Bandar, a student of grade nine was involved in an automobile accident around two years back. Dr Paul Macnamara, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at MedCare Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital who carried out the hip replacement surgery on October 25, recounted Bandar’s saga: “Blood supply to his left hip joint had been completely cut off resulting in necrosis of the hip bone, which had not been diagnosed then. He came to me limping as his left leg had shortened and the boy had scoliosis or bending of his spine, induced by the injury.”
“The patient suffered from ‘equinemous’, meaning a foot which had only the toes on the ground like the hoof of a horse, as his leg had retracted up,” added Dr Macnmara.
Bashar Bandar the boy’s father located the doctor after a search online. “I was worried as my son was in so much pain, he could hardly sleep at night. His left leg was six inches shorter than his right leg, and his spine was bent,” recounted the father of six who is thrilled to see the smile return to the face of his second child.
Dr Macnamara who carried out a standard hip replacement using a titanium implant, said this kind of surgery was very rare in an adolescent. Usually hip replacements are carried out in adults beyond 60 years of age. However, the incidence of young adults in their early twenties going in for hip replacements is getting to be common these days. “I have not heard of a hip replacement in this region in a child this young. But in case of Abdul, this surgery was imperative as it relieved him of pain instantly. We follow an enhanced recovery programme and the child was able to stand up within two days, the bend in his spine was corrected, it brought down the left leg to the same level as his right one and has given him a chance to lead a perfectly normal life. Coupled with physiotherapy, he is back to being the kid he was within three weeks.”
Bandar junior beamed with relief as he told Gulf News: “I cannot believe I am living without pain now. I suffered so much for nearly 18 months and could hardly sleep at night, or play with other boys. Now while I am here with my father, I am able to walk to all the malls and enjoy the city. It is great to set my foot on the floor and feel the floor beneath it,” said the young boy who dreams of training to be pilot and flying planes when he grows up.
What is Necrosis?
Avascular necrosis is the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. Also called osteonecrosis, avascular necrosis can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and the bone’s eventual collapse. The blood flow to a section of bone could be interrupted due to sudden injury or trauma to the bone. As a result of this the fractured bone tissue could die and decay with loss of blood supply. It would eventually require a replacement of the lost tissue with an implant.
