An innovative operation restored Mr. Dariusz’s use of his legs. Previously, the patient was paralyzed and could not even sit. After successful surgery and rehabilitation, she begins to walk. Specialists plan to carry out further such treatments.
Mr. Dariusz Fidyka had a completely severed spinal cord and was paralyzed from the waist down. He couldn’t even sit. He had no feeling and no power in his legs, and he struggled all the time with the pain from spastic muscles. His condition was very serious and he himself often thought that it would not get any worse. Therefore, when he heard about Paweł Tabakowo from Wrocław, he decided on an innovative operation.
A neurosurgeon conducted research on a damaged spinal cord. He took cells from the olfactory membrane of the nose, multiplied them and transplanted into the medulla. In 2008, he performed such an operation on two patients, but no improvement was noticed. Two years later, the situation repeated itself. Nevertheless, in 2012 another such procedure was performed, and the patient was Mr. Dariusz.
This time the operation was successful. Due to the patient’s state of health, cells were collected from the olfactory bulb in the brain. Although no improvement was seen in the first few months, the patient did not give up. His family was a huge support for him, which lifted him up. Mr. Dariusz attended rehabilitation and after some time the first results appeared. The man regained some mobility and feeling in his legs, learned to ride a three-wheeled bicycle, and also to drive a car adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. However, he had to pay for everything out of his own pocket. His family and friends from the volunteer fire brigade and the hunting club helped him a lot. Together, we managed to raise the funds needed for treatment. After two years, Mr. Dariusz’s case became interested in the British Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.
Mr. Dariusz now spends most of his time practicing. Recovery is a priority for him. He has made tremendous progress over the past few years and his prognosis is very good. He used to be completely paralyzed from the waist down and thought it couldn’t get any worse. Now, thanks to an innovative operation and persistent rehabilitation, she begins to walk. For now, he needs orthoses and a walker or handrail. He uses a wheelchair on a daily basis, but he does not lose hope. He also tries not to look too far into the future. He does not think about what will happen, but focuses on today and his current tasks.
When the information about Mr. Dariusz’s successful operation appeared in the media, hundreds of people with spinal cord injuries started reporting to Dr. Tabakov. So far, one patient has been invited to participate in the project and recruitment is still ongoing. This innovative method is a chance to regain fitness for people with a broken core.
(prepared on the basis of: Wybcza.pl)