Good news from the Bioengineering Rehabilitation for Wounded project’s patient, Serhiy, an officer with 95th Brigade! Recently, he has undergone an important surgery: the doctors removed a metal plate from his shoulder that had been injured by an enemy bullet.
The doctors of ilaya clinic confirmed there were no complications during the surgery. On receiving the necessary post-surgical care, he was released home for further restoration.
“Following the injury, the defect of tendon of the supraspinal shoulder muscle developed in the serviceman’s arm. If its regular functions are not restored in 3–4 months, we will need to perform reconstructive surgery of this tendon on the account of the deltoid,” – Serhiy’s doctor explains to People’s Project volunteers.
The serviceman himself told us that he is feeling fine and cherishes hope for the better as he is not going to abandon military service.
“At the moment, the healing process is on, so it is rather early to speak of complete recovery. Still I have been working on it quite hard as I’m still in service. I have never thought of retirement from the Armed Forces – my struggle is on. Over the last year, rehabilitation specialists assisted me in training of my shoulder, and this brought certain results. Workout on the water proved especially effective. Last summer, I already swam on the board and even could row with my injured arm. Hopefully the next summer I will be able to continue training without any metal parts or plates in my shoulder,” – Serhiy says.
Read also the story of an incredible recovery: “Overcoming pain: Vitaliy continues his restoration after severe injuries”
Unless the volunteers of the Bioengineering Rehabilitation for Wounded project who offered the officer, call sign Grand, to participate in the initiative, the finale of his story might have been quite different.
On the 1st of May, 2017, near the village of Shyroka Balka, an enemy bullet destroyed the military’s shoulder. Immediately after the injury Serhiy was provided first medical aid and quickly moved to a military hospital. The examination showed that the bullet tore out a substantial part of the shoulder joint bone head. Doctors managed to stabilize the defender’s condition still necrosis that started to develop in the bone, worsened the situation. The bone tissue began to go necrotic due to general contamination of the wound and lack of blood circulation.
It was transplantation that could help: the doctors would take fragments of the ilium (a bone adjoining pelvis) and form the new bone head out of it. Nevertheless, this method has certain limitations: the size of the defected area would not allow performing the entire procedure at once, therefore Serhiy would need to undergo a number of painful operations followed by prolonged periods of rehabilitation. Moreover, no one could guarantee that the restored leg won’t lost in functionality and movement range.
The Bioengineering Rehabilitation for Wounded became the best alternative option, as restoration by means of cell technologies presents almost a natural way of healing, hence brings the best possible results.
At the initial stages, doctors took out the cell materials which were later cultivated in a lab by the Project’s biologists who also amassed the stem cells up to the volume sufficient for their broad usage. Meanwhile, the surgeons cleared the epicenter of contagion and got the man prepared for further manipulations. In May, 2018, when the wounds got healed, the doctors implanted the cell materials into the defected zone and formed up a new joint bone head. In a three months’ time the man started to load the injured arm. Now, the fighter has to complete the final stages of treatment, and our goal is to support him in this.
Unfortunately, the state fails to sponsor such methods of restoration for heavily wounded fighters either in full or at least partially, so our military who sustained severe injuries and bone defects, have to face their troubles on their own. That is why we are trying to do our best to give the wounded the chance for complete rehabilitation and return to a normal life.
And we can do this at the expense of charitable donations, solely. In the Project description you can find profiles of our fighters who desperately need our support; if you follow this link you will see the transparent report containing the list of needs and contributions transferred onto the Project’s account, in real time. Dear friends, do not hesitate to join in: our mission is still far from its completion, and the fighters who literally has no other chance for recuperation, do count on our support!
