Amal (name changed to protect her identity), a 7-year-old girl from Amman in Jordan, was treated at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa for a congenital orthopedic deformity.
She was born with a dislocated hip that left her with a severe limp and one leg markedly shorter than the other. Even after multiple surgeries, Amal was in constant pain that affected every aspect of her life.
It took many months to arrange for Amal’s arrival in Israel and her surgery at Rambam. Finally, a few days ago, Professor Mark Eidelman, director of the Pediatric Orthopedics Unit in Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital at Rambam, and his multidisciplinary team performed the complex procedure of lengthening her thigh bone (femur).
“Amal’s surgery was challenging, but we were successful, and it ended well,” Eidelman said. “We repaired her femur with a plate, screws and an implant. Following the surgery, we immediately noticed an improvement in her condition. She can now walk again, has less pain, and is able to enjoy her life. Amal is calm and her parents are delighted. After being discharged, the family returned to Jordan, and in six weeks, Amal will return to Israel for a follow-up visit at Rambam. I am very optimistic.”
The Rambam’s Pediatric Orthopedics Unit is the only center in northern Israel treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system in children. Rappaport Children’s Hospital specializes in skeletal trauma, deformities, limb elongation, clubfoot, and the early detection and treatment of congenital dislocated hips.
