Media Release
Dubai, Mar 26: Zaytuna (27) from Uzbekistan had a fall in her home just three months after the birth of her baby girl, and dislocated her knee. Unable to bear the pain, she visited Zulekha Hospital here, after the injury to consult Dr Chidananda Shivashankar - Specialist Orthopaedician. She also had a history of frequent knee cap dislocation for over ten years. With recurrent knee pain and fear of dislocation many times she was wheelchair-bound for a prolonged period.
Sharing her painful experience, Zaytuna said, “At 16, I fell while skating in the snow and dislocated my knee cap for the first time, landing in severe pain all these years.”
Her diagnosis revealed that she had a very unstable patellofemoral joint due to which her knee was frequently dislocated. Before her surgery, Zaytuna had been on plaster for three weeks followed by a splint. She was however not confident to stand or walk for a whole month even after undergoing extensive physiotherapy. Hence, Dr Chidananda recommended the surgery to stabilize the injury and help her regain her limb function. After an MRI scan, she was additionally diagnosed with certain congenital abnormalities in the patella area.
Dr Chidananda explains, “When she initially dislocated her knee, the medial support was torn, even though it had healed. It healed in an elongated position, which made it easy for the knee cap to come out often. Our body functions just like nuts and bolts. It was also easy for the patella because it was located higher than it should have been.”
Furthermore, there was a tear in the patellofemoral ligament as well. To regain the ligament function and stability, a medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction was done involving harvesting one of her tendons, preparing and then inserting as a double band into the kneecap and then into the thigh bone. This process reconstructs the ligament and heals it over time.
After four weeks of being on the splint followed by physiotherapy which went on for three months, she was confident of standing on her feet without fear of the dislocation anymore. It has been a year now since the surgery and she has not had any new dislocations.
Dr Chidananda says, “Individuals having such injuries must immediately seek medical assistance at the onset to ensure faster recovery and normalcy of life rather than living in pain. It is better than increasing the risks of complications.”
Zaytuna says, “I was confident with the way I was educated about the injury and the procedure that assured me that I could get back to a normal happy life as a mother to my 15-month-old baby Amina. I can walk and even run now without any fear.”
Zaytuna suffered for over 10 years in pain and tried to manage her injury with elementary treatment before deciding to undergo surgical treatment. This is a common fear that prevails in the minds of people as surgery is always the last option we resort to. Expert advise at the right time is crucial to avoid complications as age progresses.
About Zulekha Healthcare Group www.zulekhahospitals.com
Zulekha Healthcare Group is a superbrand and is among the forerunners in UAE healthcare. Today, the Zulekha Healthcare Group includes two multidisciplinary hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah, as well as four UAE medical centres and three pharmacies providing specialized treatment in over 30 disciplines. The group also has a
multidisciplinary hospital in India - Alexis. Zulekha Hospital has received extensive recognition for its commitment toward quality care and sustainable business practices and recently received the prestigious Dubai Quality Award for the second time in four years, underling a commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to patients and society.
Media contact:
Sameena Khanam - Senior manager PR and communications
Zulekha Hospitals: +971 6 5069254/ +971 568813450 (skhanam@zulekhahospitals.com)