Unique Surgeries on Bulgarian Children
World renowned surgeons from the US and Spain performed unique surgeries on Bulgarian children with severe spinal deformities under a programme financed by the US company Osteotech, Inc. and the Euro-Atlantic Transplant Alliance.
Two Bulgarian children were operated in Sofia by Dr. Stephen Mardjetko, MD from the Illinois Institute for Orthopedic Surgery, USA and Prof. Paco Sanchez from the La Pas University Hospital in Madrid, Spain. The team utilised unique surgical technique and equipment, which was donated to the local hospital. A transplantation of bone tissue and electronic spinal cord monitoring was also performed during the surgery as part of the unique surgical procedure. The severe spinal deformities require surgical treatment, which is considered one of the most challenging surgeries in medicine. More than 3 percent of the pediatric population worldwide is suffering from severe spinal deformities, which makes this debilitating and life-threatening condition a socially significant healthcare problem in any country, including the prosperous industrialised nations.
These are only the first surgeries of a long-term surgical programme sponsored by Osteotech, Inc., an American publicly held company listed on NASDAQ and the Euro Atlantic Transplant Alliance (EATA), a local public non-profit foundation. The Boachie Programme, as it is referred to within the local professional circles, has been named after the world renowned surgeon Prof. Boachie from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, founder of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) and the leading orthopedic surgeon in the US. The Discovery Channel dedicated its documentary “Surgery Saved My Life” after Dr. Boachie.
The Boachie Programme is a part of Osteotech’s Corporate Citizenship Programme and is aimed at delivering quality surgical care to local children with severe spinal deformities. Such care can be provided by a relatively small number of highly experienced orthopedic surgeons, including Dr. Merdjetko, Dr. Sanchez, Dr. Boachie, Dr. Gupta and several others. The Programme was launched in 2007, when Dr. Roman Hitchev, Vice-president of Osteotech,Inc. and President of Tissue Bank Osteocentre Bulgaria, with the endorsement of the Minister of Health of Bulgaria invited Prof. Boachie and Prof. Sanchez to perform these surgeries in Bulgaria. In 2008 Dr. Hitchev signed a collaborative agreement with Tokuda Hospital in Sofia designating the hospital as a preferred site for the surgical programme. The first two surgeries took place in the Orthopedic Department of Tokuda Hospital headed by Dr. Jablanski.
The postoperative recovery of the children is going smoothly and they are expected to make a full recovery and to be able to lead a normal style of life.
January 23rd, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I just think it is wonderful the work that Osteotech has done in Bulgaria with its local company OsteoCentre (OCBG) it has started the first ISO certified, state of the art tissue bank in Sofia. I follow what is going on with them in Bulgaria as I used to work with Osteotech years ago. There dedication to the area of tissue banking is second to none. They are totally dedicated to providing donor tissue to people that need life enhancing tissue transplants and have provided millions of tissues in Bulgaria and all of Europe because of this program. There presence in Bulgaria has allowed them to donate tissue to many Bulgarians who otherwise would not have this option. They also respect the donor family’s that donate the tissue of there loved ones so that others will be able to live a better life.
So my hats off to Osteotech and OCBG for making this happen for these children in Bulgaria. They have truly been a friend to Bulgaria and will continue to be. What they have done in Bulgaria is exactly what Osteotech stands for, to help other people with their products that are far superior to any in the market.
I’m sure the family’s of these children are so overwhelmed with joy after having the best surgeons in the world perform this surgery to change the lives of these children. For Osteotech and OCBG to be able to get surgeons with the best reputations in the world to come to Sofia and perform and also to pay the cost of these surgeries is truly remarkable.
I hope Osteotech and OCBG continue to be successful in Bulgaria and that Bulgaria realizes what they have available to them, the best in the world people that do amazing things everyday to help other people. I’m sure the staff at OCBG is full with the very best people to provide such a professional and rare service and do it with compassion. I know how hard this work is as I’ve done it for several years in the states and for this to be happening in Bulgaria is remarkable.
My best wish’s to Osteotech and the staff at OCBG for there dedication and service to help other people and my prayer’s to these children for a wonderful recovery.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I’m deeply touched by the gesture of the world renowned surgeons from the US and Spain for Bulgarian children. It reminded me of another hospital, the Horder Centre (http://www.hordercentre.co.uk/), which is closely associated for such cause. Even though, I was an NHS patient for knee surgery, the staff took great care of me. They performed all the necessary check ups and treatments. Because of their care and support, I was well on my feet within a few weeks.
March 30th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
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