In 1952 Gavriil Ilizarov, a Soviet surgeon unknown to anybody, presented a revolutionary device—an external fixator for bone fractures.
His invention provided the best conditions for bone knitting. It was clear that Ilizarov’s method had a good chance of success, but his path to recognition and worldwide fame was long and difficult.
Today Ilizarov’s invention is known and recognized everywhere. A special medical centre was built in Kurgan, in the USA Ilizarov’s daughter followed his work.
The Center has introduced highly effective medical technologies into its clinical activity, such as joint replacement and arthroscopy. New techniques of limb lengthening in automated mode using the designed at the Center automatic distractor and stimulation methods for bone tissue regeneration have been developed and mastered. New developments have been patented in the RF and abroad.
Their introduction into practice has resulted in a new conception for rehabilitative treatment of patients with shortened limbs, bone defects, pathology of the foot and hand, as well as in a complex of tactical and organization measures, devices, and ways for providing optimal conditions for reparative process stimulation, functional restoration and 2 to 4 times reduction of the treatment period.
Jeweller’s work of Kurgan plastic surgeons
Recently, a unique operation has been carried out at our centre.
A 19-year old girl from Chelyabinsk oblast sustained a crush injury at the factory where she worked. Intact were only three fingers on one hand and two on the other. Local doctors had to amputate the crushed segments and the girl remained invalid.
She then was admitted to the Ilizarov centre and had a staged treatment in the left hand. The surgery was performed by the team headed by Natalia Shikhaleva, our microsurgeon. Initially, the doctors were forming the first metacarpal bone surrounded by soft tissue envelope that included a blood-supplied flap harvested from the forearm. The second stage was the second toe transfer to host on the site of the lost first finger. The outcome of this unique operation was restoration of the left hand shape and function that would have been impossible without microsurgery technique and skillful surgeons’ hands.
The girl will have some rest and then come for treatment in some months again.
Arthroscopy
Most bones are connected with each other by joints. Each end of the bone that forms a joint has a surface covered with articular cartilage. Cartilage is a slippery, smooth substance that assures minimal friction during motion. Each joint is encapsulated in synovial capsule. The internal surface of this capsule produces a lubricating fluid (synovial fluid). The stability of each joint is maintained by ligamentous apparatus.
The most common joint disease is arthritis. There are over 100 types of arthritis. It may appear suddenly or gradually, affect one or several joints. Different types of arthritis affect joints in different ways.
Another large group is traumatic injuries to joints.
Center Ilizarov well-equipped operation units and skilled staff cure severe joint diseases of different location using arthroscopy, joint replacement, techniques developed in our Center, exercise therapy and rehabilitation procedures.
Hand joint replacement surgeries
Hand joint replacement is widely practiced in some countries. Kurgan is the first city in Russia to begin performing these operations. Our hand surgeons had training in France, then foreign prostheses were purchased and patients started be treated.
Hand joint replacement can be indicated for neglected fractures and dislocations as well as for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. These conditions frequently end in disability.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe disease and was traced back in ancient people that lived 4500 years B.C. in Latin America.
Its conventional treatment is pain relief and slowing down the disease development. Nowadays, normal motion in finger joints can be obtained using joint replacement techniques. The damaged joints are replaced with implanted ones made of silicon elastomere and their surface has velvet- or polyester grid structure. Due to this feature the implant rapidly grows into bone tissue.
This high technology service is available not only to patients from Kurgan but also from other Russian cities or villages, or foreign nationals.
In the opinion of surgeons, it is one more step forward in treating upper hand pathology and a good reason to open a regional center for hand microsurgery.
Brain injuries
Trauma treatment in Ilizarov center The clock round aiding patiens of any age with compound and infected fractures by Ilizarov method, gunshot wounds with locomotor system injury, multiple and combined trauma, acute and inveterate injuries of pelvic bones, acute defects of bone and soft tissues
Eagle getting treatment at Animal Hospitaltreatment in RISC RTO, Russia, Kurgan
