Live without a foot or fight? How does the project work « Save the limb »

In 2010, Sergiy had severe back and joint pain. For more than 3 years, doctors have only bred their hands, because all the tests were normal, diagnosed – healthy.

”If it was happening now, everyone would think that I was a hazel – Sergiy jokingly.

In the end, the man was lucky-his case was heard by a doctor from Israel. She met similar symptoms in US doctors. The examination confirmed an extremely rare and complex diagnosis. Treatment at the US National Institute of Health lasted more than 2 years.

Doctors wanted to amputate the leg, but Sergei was pleased to leave the limb in any way. They succeeded.

Now the man walks on two of his feet. And he does everything to keep their limbs from amputation as possible.

After returning from the United States, Serhiy Soshinsky founded the Foundation for the Health of the Ukrainian People, one of which is the program « Save the limb ».

As doctors manage to avoid amputations after difficult injuries and how to become a participant of the program – read in the material.

Causes of limb loss on the front

According to the National Health Service of Ukraine, during 2022-2024 the state conducted 93 566 amputations and gave More than 90 thousand prostheses.

First of all, a hand or leg can take away on a battlefield. Unfortunately, such extremities cannot be sewn back through the torn edges of the wound and infection. In this and all other cases, a turnstile is thrown on the wounded limb to avoid critical blood loss.

A combat physician with pseudo « feb » explains that turnstile Designed to block the blood flow. Therefore, below the place of imposition of a muscle and nerves tournament live without blood flow – use their own supply of oxygen and nutrients.

If the extremities have been devoid of blood for a long time (more than 4 hours), then products of breakdown of their own tissues, bacterial infections, toxins and pathogens can be added to the bloodstream.

Therefore, the fabrics begin to die gradually.

Therefore, one of the reasons for the loss of legs or hands can be the effects of turnstile syndrome (Tissue, blood vessels and nerves die off due to prolonged compression.)

”When the muscle tissue dies, it releases a number of compounds to the bloodstream. For example, myoglobin is a « younger brother » of hemoglobin, which tolerates oxygen. But in the bloodstream it can lead to renal failure by scoring the renal tubules« , – explains » FEB « .

That is, with prolonged use of the turnstile, the question is not about the rescue of the limb, but the life of the patient, because toxins accumulate. For example, Alexander's fighter who Waited For evacuation for 36 days with a turnstile stand on a wounded leg in positions near Vovchansk, a miracle was survived. The limb was amputated.

Medical manipulation, which is called the turn of the horizontal bar (an approach that makes a decision on the feasibility of further use of the turnstile) can help to preserve the limb. It should be carried out by a specialist – a combat physician or doctor, pre -thawing the wound with a pressing bandage.

The condition of each patient and his extremities is evaluated individually depending on the duration of evacuation, color and mobility of the limb. Assessment and conversion, if possible, are carried out as soon as possible, but not longer than 4 hours from the imposition of the turnstile.

FEB MISS

Photo from the archive

The FEB combat physician says that in their formation, doctors fight for the rescue of the limb of every wounded, if there is at least a minimal chance of it.

But even if the military has retained the limb on the stabbon, doctors in medical institutions for a number of reasons (for example, irreversible damage to the neuro-vascular beam) can solve it.

Rescue limb instead of amputation

According to Sergiy Soshinsky, many medical facilities do not have enough external fixation devices (an alternative to gypsum, which can simultaneously fix the bone and treat infections on the skin), plates, screws. There are also constant and temporary joints, metal plates for bone plastic and the like. But all these « spare parts » are necessary to preserve and restore the injured limbs.

”Due to the lack of these details, boys often lie in hospitals for longer than they would, or even lose limb function due to long inaction. In many cases, this leads to amputations« , – said Sergei.

Sergey Soshinsky with a patient who was rescued

Photo from the archive of Sergei Soshinsky

In the fall of 2022, Sergei Soshinsky started the project « Save the limb » so that as many Ukrainians as possible can keep their hands and feet as possible.

« More than 50% of limbs that go to amputation can be saved without loss of function. But it requires a resource, timely surgery and, accordingly, funds, medicines and devices« , – said the head of the fund.

The first patient's patient was Svetlana. During a full -scale invasion of her family, she came under fire. Svetlana's husband was killed, and the woman suffered a complicated shin injury – all the bones of the foot were broken.

Surgeons wanted to amputate the limb, but 64 doctors decided during the Consilium that the foot could be saved. In 2 years, Svetlana conducted 20 operations, and now she can move freely.

”If most doctors at the Consilium claims that the limb can try to be saved, then in 99% of cases it succeeds« , – adds Sergey Soshinsky.

How is the recovery of broken bones and joints

Orthopedic surgeon Vasyl Gayovych, who works in the project, notes that due to active fighting in Ukraine, many patients have complex injuries with joints, muscles and multiple fractures. Limbs with such injuries are usually functional and are subject to amputation.

The Project doctors save the limbs of military and civilian

Photo from the archive of the project « Save the limb »

”If the shoulder is damaged, the arm is kept on the nerves, vessels and muscles. And this is a good 10 kg or more. Each movement is accompanied by unbearable pain, which, incidentally, is manifested at night. Patients do not sleep, are in a terrible psycho -emotional state. Even end up with suicide life, «  He summarizes.

The expert adds that rehabilitation classes for such people have no effect, because the arm or leg work, it is necessary that all the bones are in place, because it is a frame of the body. Even it is difficult for such patients to propose, because it lacks « supports ». Equally important are other tissues, but they can be transplanted from other areas of the body.

« We keep everything that survives: muscles, nerves, vessels. If the bones can be connected – we install special plates. Instead of a joint we install a spacer (temporary denture of the joint) or endoprosthesis (constant artificial joint). We can also perform muscle and bone plastic« , – says Vasily.

He explains that fragments of pelvic bones are most commonly used to replace bone tissue. Muscle and nerve tissue is usually taken from the back and transplanted to shoulder, elbows and more. The human brain quickly reassures – the muscles after transplanting adapt to the performance of new functions.

How do the damaged shoulders and shoulder blades rescue

One of the patients who wanted to cut off the limb was the 26-year-old serviceman Alexander Martanenko. He served on a contract before a full -scale invasion. He met a great war near Avdiivka.

He was seriously injured during the Kharkiv counter -offensive. Three meters from him broke up a tank projectile – the wreckage of the shoulder and shoulder, and one fragment « sat » in the lungs. In the front -line hospitals, the fighter was provided with the necessary help, the debris was obtained. But none of the doctors took the hand – they offered amputation.

Specialists for the boy were sought by relatives and brothers. In the end, they found the project « Save the limb » and a doctor who undertook a difficult operation. The serviceman explained to the doctors that he needed to make him move his hand again and bring drones in hostile positions.

The surgeon replaced the shoulder joint and had bone plastic – he was able to almost completely restore the anatomy of the joint and the limb support. Alexander will be able to perform all movements with this hand after surgery and rehabilitation.

The surgeon adds that many of his patients returned to the front. One of them, after recovery of the shoulder and shoulder blade, was again at zero. The bulletproof vest wiped the skin and exposed the bone plate. The retainer was removed, as well as changed temporary endoprosthesis to permanent. He will soon return to the system.

Can you save your hand if elbow is pulled

« Air injuries are more common because this part is not closed with a bulletproof vest and has no protection. Such patients have to make skin, muscle and bone plastic, put artificial joints and treat damaged nerves. All this for a person can drink, eat, work in a toilet, and work.« ,-says Orthopedic surgeon Vasily.

The program includes not only military but also civilians. So the project was joined by the waiter Valery, who works in one of the restaurants of the capital. He was injured in October 2022, when he hurried to work during a massive attack on Kiev. The man remembers the events with fragments: he heard the explosion, and then saw blood flowing from his hand. Valery was looking for a turnstile for the nearest machines and establishments not to drain with blood. In the end, he was dragged with a strap and taken to the hospital.

The fragment during the explosion pulled the elbow, and the forearm hung on a piece of skin and muscles. Valery, before surgery, asked the surgeon to leave his limb. The doctor assured the patient that he would do his best.

In 1.5 months, Valery's waiter performed 7 operations, but the infection got into the wound during healing. Doctors denied the patient from further surgery and persistently suggested cutting off their forearms.

Within the framework of the « Save the Limber » program he was cured an infection, an elbow prosthesis, sewn up torn muscles. A year later, Valery returned to his favorite job. There are a few more operations ahead, but a man is happy to have his hand, not a prosthesis.

Criteria and requirements for patients to participate in the « Save the Limb » project

More than 1.2 thousand extremities have already been restored as part of the project. But on average, about 10% of people who apply for treatment fall for treatment.

There are several criteria for participation.

First and main is The complexity of a case from a medical point of view. If there are already direct indications for amputation, they collect a consultation from Ukrainian and foreign doctors to confirm or refute previous conclusions.

If the honey is convinced that the patient has a chance to restore the limb, the patient will be taken to the program.

The patient's decision is made by a medical consultation

Photo from the archive « Save the limb »

It is important for the wounded There were no complex comorbiditiessuch as hepatitis, AIDS, diabetes and more. They burden the recovery process and require additional costs.

The second criterion is age. Currently, they have been imprisoned up to 45 years of age so that the patient's body has better recovery opportunities.

”Almost 60% of our patients return to the system, so it is extremely important that it is very motivated and young people who choose our independence« , – says Sergey Soshinsky.

The third criterion – The patient's openness and desire to help others wounded.

Sergei explains that it is a matter of communication with donors and the fund, a willingness to share his history and treatment results.

”We raise money through fundraising, which is social marketing. That is, the patient should seek communication with those people who actually pay his surgery « – he says.

Victoria Andreeva, UP