Dubai, 15 January, 2020:  Zulekha Hospital Dubai successfully treated 36 year old worker who suffered a lumbar injury as a result of an accidental fall from the fourth floor. This polytraumatic case was rushed in by Dubai Ambulance to Zulekha Hospital from the fall scene immediately after the incident. A team of medical experts including the on call polytrauma team, Dr. Wael M. A. Alsammak, Consultant Orthopedic Surgery, Dr. Khaldoon Abo Dakka, Specialist Thoracic Surgery and the ICU team attended the patient’s emergency. 

With investigations it was identified that the L1 vertebra had been fractured due to the trauma and needed to be fixed from either sides. The lower-half of the patient’s body was completely paralyzed due to the huge impact of the fall. 

Dr. Alsammak first performed an urgent posterior procedure spine fixation and neural decompression followed by the minimally invasive anterior thoracoscopic assisted spine procedure as second step by both Dr. Wael and Dr. Khaldoon. In such procedures the thoracic surgeon uses a thoracoscope to get a clear visualization of the vertebral body through small skin incisions. Dr. Khaldoon remarked, “Technological advancements in healthcare with this kind of a video assisted surgery ease patient trauma and avoid open surgeries. The minimally-invasive access used during such a major surgery helps in reducing post-operative pain, complications, and accelerates the patient’s recovery.” 

Dr. Alsammak added, “The four hour surgery has helped the patient from remaining paraplegic for life because of huge impact of the spinal cord injury. The post-operation results seen were excellent as the patient is hopeful of regaining more mobility in future with physiotherapy and rehabilitation.”  

Zulekha Hospital is well equipped to serve trauma patients in severe emergency situations, right from admission to discharge, going through the best of care at the Intensive Care Unit, operation theatres, wards, and physiotherapy center. 

According to World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide. 37.3 million falls that are severe enough to require medical attention occur each year. Falls may result in greater losses in life including financial instability, physical and emotional trauma, disturbed lifestyles and even other medical complications like depression, mobility and cognitive impairments. Doctors highly recommend that due precautions must be taken while travelling, moving rigorously, moving material, working in hazardous and on slippery platforms to avoid fatalities from accidental falls.