Jordanian Teenager With Limb Amputation Walks After Prosthetic Rehabilitation At Dubai Healthcare City

Sunday, May 03, 2015

Dubai Healthcare City announces the successful prosthetic rehabilitation case of a Jordanian teenager with a medical history of bilateral limb amputation, ahead of participation at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the leading tourism exhibition from May 4-7, 2015.

Dubai, May 3, 2015: Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), the world’s largest healthcare free zone, today announced the successful prosthetic rehabilitation case of a Jordanian teenager with a medical history of bilateral limb amputation, ahead of its participation at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the leading tourism exhibition from May 4-7, 2015.

During ATM, which takes place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center, DHCC will illustrate, through several foreign patient cases, its efforts to strengthen Dubai’s position as a preferred destination for medical tourism.

Medical tourists represent approximately 15 percent of total patient visits at DHCC; the free zone recorded 1.2 million patient visits in 2014. As per latest available data on medical tourism procedures at DHCC, the majority of foreign patients are from the GCC countries and the wider Middle East, seeking infertility treatment, cosmetic, dental, cardiac, and orthopedic procedures or tests.

The successful case of Suha Bashayreh, who suffered amputation in both legs after a traffic accident in June 2007, is a medical tourism success story for Dubai Healthcare City.

Suha’s case was handled by an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals and supported by donors at various intervals over the past six years. She first visited DHCC-based German Limbtech Orthopedic Technology Center in May 2009 for prosthetic rehabilitation, and returned in 2010, 2014 and 2015.

Her rehabilitation programme was supported by funds raised by 7EmiratesRun in partnership with Al Jalila Foundation.

In April this year, Suha, who was accompanied by her father Yousef Bashayreh, concluded a three-week rehabilitation program that included new sockets and liners for the prostheses, physical therapy, and walking and balance training.

The family has returned to Jordan with the assurance of a more independent life for the teenager.

Dr Fatma Al Sharaf, Senior Manager – Strategy and Partner Development, Dubai Healthcare City, said, “Suha’s case reminds us of the importance of sub-specialties like prosthetic rehabilitation and its life-changing impact. The availability of cutting-edge medical devices is integral to improving a patient’s quality of life. We, at Dubai Healthcare City, are committed to increasing access to global expertise closer to home.”

Suha’s father Yousef said he was helpless when his daughter had the accident. “She couldn’t walk. I was worried about her future, her plans to become a doctor. It pained me to see her grow out of her artificial legs and forced to walk on her stumps.”

With a modest income for his family of nine children, and limited access to medical expertise, the support from the 7EmiratesRun team, which raises funds to get children back on their feet, in partnership with Al Jalila Foundation, gave him hope.

“I am deeply grateful to see my little girl smile again,” he said. “She was barely 10 when she lost her legs.”

The case illustrates the need for regular replacement of prostheses as children grow. A prosthetic leg by itself can cost AED 80,000 or more, depending on the type.

It is estimated that in the age group of 12 to 21, a new prosthesis is required once every three to four years along with training to re-learn necessary skills to attain the highest functional level possible.

“Check-ups should be done after six to eight months because children like Suha are in a very high mobility class, and experience difficulty as they grow,” said Wendelin Lauxen, Managing Director and Director of Patient Care at German Limbtech Orthopedic Technology Center, and founder of ultra marathon 7EmiratesRun.

“We hope that Suha’s story will inspire more support to help individuals with limb deformities,” he added.

Caption: Medical tourism success story for Dubai Healthcare City: Suha Bashayreh, who suffered amputation in both legs after a traffic accident in June 2007, underwent rehabilitation at DHCC-based German Limbtech Orthopedic Technology Center. From left: Wendelin Lauxen, Managing Director of the Center, Suha and her father Yousef.