Media Release
Dubai, Aug 4: A teenager was recently brought in to Zulekha Hospital here, following a fall while playing football. Abubakr (16) had lost his ability to walk, stand or even extend his knee naturally after the injury. He was immediately assessed, admitted and an emergency procedure planned to ensure the damage to his knee was instantly treated. Diagnosis revealed it was a Tibia Tubercle Fracture which happens during extensive rigorous sporting activities, due to the intense stretch of the tibial muscle.
Dr Wael M A Alsammak, Consultant Orthopedic Surgery in Zulekha Hospital Dubai shares, “It is very important for us as healthcare professionals to ensure we do our best to restore the complete movement of young patients such as Abubakr when we see such cases. It required a quick decision after a thorough investigation. Over a two hour surgery, we reduced this fracture and put the bone and tendon back in place, fixing it in the appropriate manner using two screws with reinforcement of patella tendon by anchor sutures. After surgery, we put the knee in full extension with a knee brace for 4-6 weeks, with a gradual range of motion training programme.”
The reported incidence of such injuries is 0.4- 2.7 % of all pediatric physeal fractures (growth plate related injuries) and less than 1% of overall pediatric fractures. This mostly happens in males between the ages of 12-17 years with an athletic lifestyle. Many individuals do not expect a bone to be fractured with a muscle pulling off, and that makes it rare.
Abubakr was discharged the next day after his surgery. He will undergo progressive quadriceps muscle training and extensor mechanism strengthening over a planned physiotherapy programme. He will be able to return to sports after three months, as a re-fracture is a known complication with this type of injury.
Sharing his experience Abubakr said, “I am an avid football player and I was very upset when I could not move immediately after my injury on the ground. I am thankful that I was treated right in time and I can hope to be playing again soon after my recovery.”
About Zulekha Healthcare Group www.zulekhahospitals.com
Zulekha Healthcare Group is a superbrand and 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 treatments 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 of PR and Communications
Zulekha Hospitals: +971 6 5069254/+971 568813450 (skhanam@zulekhahospitals.com)