Complex procedure at Netcare Alberlito saves man’s leg

A 37-year-old man was recently discharged from Netcare Alberlito after undergoing a highly intricate, almost 10-hour, microsurgical free tissue transfer operation – a first for the Ballito based hospital.

Senzo Mbuyazi of Empangeni suffered a crush injury to his left lower leg in July, which resulted in a compound fracture of both his tibia and fibula bones.

Mbuyazi was transferred to Netcare Alberlito after being stabilised at Netcare The Bay Hospital in Richard’s Bay following his injury.

“The lower leg is a very difficult area to reconstruct owing to the limited tissue available that can be used to transfer to the wound,” said plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Trishan Pillay.

“The international gold standard treatment option for this area is a free tissue transfer, so after careful consideration of all options, the team elected to go this route.”

The free tissue transfer operation involves transplanting living tissue from one region of the body to another and enables the reconstruction of complex injuries such as that experienced by Mbuyazi.

Although the procedure is not a new operation, it is highly complex requiring a multidisciplinary team that is trained in the technique.

“The surgical and medical teams are thrilled with the outcome of the procedure.”

Mbuyazi’s exposed bone was completely covered by the transplanted tissue, and the nerves and tissue were meshing together and healing well by the time he was discharged.

“The new tissue will also enable the healing of the bone and we expect Mbuyazi to have the full function of his leg restored within approximately five weeks.”

This type of surgery is extremely difficult owing to the complexity and intricacy of the blood and vascular, or circulatory, system.

“It requires long hours in the operating room and a very steady hand as well as specialised microsurgical instrumentation and other equipment, including a high powered microscope, all of which we have at our disposal at the hospital.”

The operation involved a multidisciplinary team that included Dr Sachin Baba, a resident orthopaedic surgeon at Netcare Alberlito Hospital, anaesthetist, Dr Leraj AK Lekha, and plastic and reconstructive surgeons, Dr Trishan Pillay and Dr Desigan Pillay.

After almost a month in hospital, Mbuyazi made a strong recovery and the hospital staff and doctors were gratified that he could be discharged home in good spirits.

“His progress will be closely monitored by his team of doctors and we wish him a speedy recovery,” said Dr Augusta Dorning, general manager of Netcare Alberlito.

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