(translated from Arabic)
My name is Abdulhakim Almadi, a 37 year-old male from Saudi Arabia. I was born with a combination of a congenital short femur and short tibia with absent fibula.
In 1982, I underwent a surgery in London, UK to stabilize my right hip joint, which was the immediate problem then. Later on, I was provided with an extension prosthesis, through which I was able to walk.
Over the years, I tried to cope with wearing different kinds of prostheses. However, I was never quite comfortable with all those prostheses because they looked ugly and were too heavy. Moreover, I would have backaches and some pain in my right hip from time to time.
Last year I was referred to Dr. Dror Paley by Dr. Saad Almohrj the Chief of Medical Affairs at the National Guard Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Paley examined me in his clinic and proposed a treatment plan that targeted reconstruction of my right hip and preparing my ankle joint to function as a knee joint. I went back home to prepare myself and my family to the planned treatment.
Few months later, I returned to the US to start the proposed treatment plan. In a course of 9 months, I underwent 4 surgeries: super ankle, super hip, knee freeze and rotationplasty. In addition to that, I have been concurrently given a lot of physiotherapy sessions. Toward the end of my plan, a completely new prosthesis that suits my lower right limb has been designed and made.
On April 25th 2017, I plan to go back home to start a new life with a nice looking prosthesis, and for sure, a much better functional situation, especially in my hip.
I would like to thank Dr Paley, to whom I am greatly indebted, and his professional team for all the care and help they have provided me with in all my treatment stages. I would definitely recommend the Paley Institute to anyone who has congenital defects in their limbs.
Abdulhakim
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
