UAE doctors save man’s foot by using skin from his arms

UAE surgeons performed a 12hour operation to save a man’s foot, which had been so damaged by infection that the bone was exposed.

Doctors at Al Zahra Hospital in Sharjah performed a “free flap surgery”, transferring tissue from the forearms of the diabetic patient, 42, to the infected area. The operation – the first of its kind to be carried out at the hospital – was successful.

The doctors feared they would have to amputate the foot to save the patient’s life if they could not control the infection.

It was so bad that the infection had to be cleaned during surgery, where it was discovered that it had destroyed a significant amount of tendons and skin. The diseased areas were removed, exposing 13 centimetres of bone, and he lost of one of his toes.

“Given the decline of the foot and the onset of complications, we were proud to successfully treat it,” said orthopaedic consultant Dr Harpal Jadeja, one of several doctors involved in the operation.

The patient said he was trying to stay hopeful but he knew amputation was a real possibility.

“I had full faith that the team of doctors would do their best to work on my foot with the free-flap surgery, and I appreciated the professionalism, support and honesty with which the doctors and surgeons openly told me that the process didn’t guarantee a 100 per cent success,” he said.

“Since the operation I’ve been in good health and have been following a regimen of daily mobility exercises, and more mindful nutritional choices, along with post-operation medication and care to speed up the healing process.”