Wonky Bones

Our orthopedics program is nearly completed.  Though the surgeries were done during the first six weeks of our time in Madagascar, the patients have only started to be "healed."  The bones take many months to heal during which time the patients are in casts.  The casts are changed several times throughout the months.  For most operations, the patient must be less than 17 years old since adult bones take longer to knit back together.  Adults require longer medical care, and we are not in country long enough to oversee the medical care.  Neither are we are able to ensure adequate care from local doctors.  This is not a slur against local doctors, we simply do not have the time to determine if the doctor is adequate nor do they keep detailed records of past surgeries.

The surgeries performed help individuals look normal, but also restore normal function to the limbs.  The following are some of the most common surgeries performed on the Africa Mercy.  I have also included before and after pictures of patients who have undergone the specific surgery.

BOWED LEGS:
Bowed legs can occur for several reasons.  The most common reason in Africa is Rickets, which is bone disease due to lack of calcium and Vitamin D in the diet.  Most often both legs are affected though not always.

Erissa before:

 

Erissa after:

 

Delias before:

 

Delias after:

 

Louianah before:

 

Louianah after:

 

Wendy before:

Wendy after:

Mikael before:

 

Mikael after: (pictured here in in a partial weight bearing cast…the blue bandages around the cast protect "windows" that are cut into the cast to give us access to the pins placed into the leg which are later removed)

 Tonny before:

 

Tonny after: (His now straightened left leg makes his right leg look crooked in comparison though his right leg is fully functional)

Bernadette before:

Bernadette after:

KNOCKED KNEES:

Just like bowed legs, knocked knees occurs because of Rickets and usually affects both legs.

Brundi before:

 

Brundi after:

 

Leonce before:

 

Leonce after:

 

Larissa before:

 

Larissa after:

 

TIP TOE WALK:

This deformity causes a person to walk as if she is wearing high heels even when barefoot.

Brenda before:

Brenda after:

Sandrins before:

 

Sandrins after: (pictured here in her last "cast"...though it is actually a brace)

OTHER SURGERIES:

Here are a few surgeries that are less common.  I am not even sure of all the medical names.

Vanya before:

I have to admit that these before pictures look fake, but I can assure you that her legs really did look like this.

Vanya After:

 

This is Vanya back at home, looking so normal.  Her family was so amazed and so happy.

Judicael before:

The toes point inward and the arch comes off floor more than normal.  His weight is resting on the outer portion of his feet.

Judicael after:

We will be back next year to help God do some more amazing transformations!