Elderly Nigerian medical tourist regains complete mobility in both knees at RAK Hospital

• The 68-year-old was suffering from windswept deformity, a condition rarely found among adults
• The patient had flown in from his native country to UAE to undergo complicated total knee replacement surgeries in both knees 

June 21st, 2020; Ras Al Khaimah, UAE:  Tackling a rare case of knee-bone abnormality, RAK Hospital relieved Mr Issac, a 68-year-old Nigerian of excruciating pain and mobility issues that he had been facing for the past four years. 

Despite several visits to doctors in his native country the patient couldn’t find permanent relief. He was then advised by a high-ranking official in Nigeria to consult doctors at RAK Hospital and eventually opted for surgery at the healthcare institution. However, suffering with windswept deformity, an unusual knee condition and sickle cell-anaemia presented a challenging situation for the surgical procedure.

“Windswept deformity in the knees is a rare occurrence where the bones or joints of one knee angulates inwards – known as varus deformity – and in the other knee is angled outwards – valgus deformity – causing immense pain and walking difficulties,” explained Dr John Bera, Senior Specialist, Spine and Orthopaedic Surgery at RAK Hospital, “The condition is quite unusual among adults, making the surgery far more complicated. In Mr Isaac’s case, the bone joint in the left knee was angled inwards by 10 degrees and in the right knee it was angled outwards by 30 degrees.”

While the surgery in the right knee went smoothly, the procedure in the left knee presented several challenges. 

“Total knee replacement in valgus knee is always a challenge. Because the bone is dislocated at a very odd angle, the bone cut must be minimal and precise taking into account the rotation and alignment of thighbone and shinbone, very good soft tissue balancing and ensuring the kneecap stays in place when the knee is in motion. Moreover, the patient also suffered from sickle-cell anaemia, which could potentially lead to blood loss during the procedure. Fortunately, the blood loss was minimal, and he did not undergo blood transfusion either during the surgery or after it,” added Dr Bera. 

Within two weeks of the surgery, Mr Isaac was able to walk without any pain in either of the knees and returned to Nigeria.  

“I can confidently say that coming to RAK Hospital for treatment was a good decision. As a medical traveller, I found all arrangement to be smooth and well-coordinated. The management, the environment, the treatment and the hospital staff were also great. Prior to the surgery, walking was very painful for me and my right leg used to bend even while standing. But after this treatment, I’m able to stand straight and walk properly, and I couldn’t be happier. I’d like to thank Dr John Bera for the brilliant job,” said Mr Isaac. 

Commenting on the successful surgery, Dr Raza Siddiqui, Executive Director of RAK Hospital added: “It’s a proud moment for RAK Hospital that besides being a preferred referral point across several countries, it’s also gaining a reputation for its surgical acumen through word of mouth. Medical tourism in the UAE has found a firm foothold, and RAK Hospital has played its role diligently in this regard. I’d also like to congratulate Dr Bera and his team on yet another achievement”.

Serving thousands of local, regional and international patients, RAK Hospital is a trusted one-stop treatment destination for international patients as it provides premium personalized and compassionate care. The hospital has been instrumental in bringing cutting-edge technology and surgical procedures to the UAE, providing medical tourists a destination that is at par with the West in terms of technology.