Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi successfully performed reconstructive surgery enabling a Uzbekistan patient to sit down after 3 decades

Reconstructive Surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi by Dr. Shahin Nooreyezdan, Consultant – Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery made it possible for a Uzbekistan patient to sit down after 32 years.

Gulnora Rapikhova, is a 37 year old patient from Uzbekistan whose life changed after she was operated by Dr. Shahin Nooreyezdan, to heal her chronic burn wounds at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. Rapikhova travelled all the way from Tashkent to New Delhi while standing or lying down in the flight.

Rapikhova was 5 years old when her dress caught fire at home. By the time she was rushed to hospital she developed severe burns on her lower back to her thighs. She was hospitalized for 18 months; first at a local hospital, later at Tashkent. Rapikhiova was unable to sit and she spent almost 32 years either standing or lying down.

She underwent major surgeries to heal her wound but in vain. Taping a clean towel over her chronic wounds or taking painkillers when the pain was unbearable was the only thing she can do, said Rapikhova. Her first step towards ending her suffering was when she decided to visit the free medical camp in Sirdarya organized by Apollo Hospitals. On examination, the patient was found to have chronic raw and infected wounds down her back, buttocks and thighs and a severe tissue wounds. The surgery was not very complicated and skin graft from lower legs were used to cover the wounds but to rule-out the risk of wounds turning into cancer (Marjolin ulcer) after 10 to 15 years, several biopsies were done, added Dr. Shahin Nooreyezdan.

Gulnora Rapikhova was operated on May 31, 2018 and recovered well. She was able to sit down after three decades. She had to wear pressure garments for six months. Gulnora Rapikhova is a great fan of Bollywood films and she expressed her experience by saying “It’s a lot like in the films, people are nice”

Apollo Hospitals was yet again successful in bringing back the smile on the face of a patient!