Today was the second surgical day at The Obras Hospital for Team Hope in Motion. Many activities were happening simultaneously including post-op rounds, pre-op preparation, hip and knee replacements, post op care and physical therapy. I will walk through all these aspects of the day.
Again, the day started with a 30 -minute HIIT workout (for some), followed by breakfast, prayer devotional and it was a cloudy walk to the hospital from Quinta de Las Flores. I tagged along with Dr. Keith Berend, Dr. Mike Berend, Dr. Klaasen, Dr. Lombardi and Drs. Herbst and Knecht on rounds and found some smiles and some patients that were working through some normal post-op pain issues that occurs the day after surgery. Many patients had family members with them who were happy to see their surgeon and comforted that their recovery was progressing normally.
On the hip side, patients have presented in the clinic with hip fractures, avascular necrosis, hip dysplasia and some with typical osteoarthritis that have been untreated sometimes for several years, making it very difficult, if not impossible for them to walk, also adding significant surgical challenges for Dr. Keith to repair their condition. Many significant leg length inequalities were improved, and Zimmer Biomet implants were installed to restore motion to these compromised patients. On the knee side, many patients have debilitating arthritis, oftentimes with extreme anatomical deformities including old bony fractures, extreme bow legged conditions, prior injuries from auto accidents and farm accidents. Dr. Lombardi treated a patient with a prior knee infection where a knee replacement was removed several years ago and an antibiotic impregnated bone cement spacer was left in place. This spacer was intended to be in place for about 3 months and was actually in place for five years. A tumor-style, rotating hinge knee implant had to be used to provide the stability needed for this patient to walk safely. Dr. Klaasen also treated a knee patient who had an auto accident 15 years ago that shattered his knee joint, destroying large portions of bone and all the ligaments around the knee. He also used a rotating hinge knee device to restore motion in this patient’s knee. In the foot and ankle room, Drs. Herbst and Knecht successfully corrected several grossly deformed feet and have provided these patients with an incredible gift of restoring their anatomy to the best of their abilities.
The true success of many of these orthopedic procedures is dependent on the physical therapy (PT) that patients receive after surgery. The Team HIM PT team has been doing an outstanding job of inspiring patients to start leaning how to use their new joints. It is so awesome to see their smiling faces when they experience the ability to walk normally. Their lives are at the beginning of a huge transformational change.
All in all, 19 procedures were completed and the team definitely improved their efficiency as the team settled into their roles. Spirits are good and the team is ready to take on another great day of improving Guatemalan lives. I hope to give a couple nice case examples at the end of the week that tell the story of how Team HIM is bringing motion to folks who really need it.
Stay tuned for more tomorrow.
Respectfully submitted,
John White
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