Dubai: A Filipino expat has undergone critical limb-saving surgery at a private hospital after falling from an e-scooter. Following the accident, the 35-year-old patient suffered multiple fractures in her elbow with vascular injury complicating her condition.

A nurse by profession, Pinky Joy Non Caballero, had fallen from her e-scooter while riding to work.

“I was riding to work with my husband, who accompanied me separately on his bike. Suddenly, I lost balance and fell to the ground, hitting my left elbow. Though I sat up straight, I could not move my left hand. I did not feel any pain at the time, but it had already started to swell. I knew I had fractured my elbow,” said Pinky, an orthopedic nurse.

Since she could not move, her husband called for an ambulance which took her to a private hospital. 

Pinky underwent multiple tests and scans that revealed vascular injury with multiple fractures. “The doctors told me that the injuries had damaged my nerves and blood vessels. They informed me that I would have to undergo a complex procedure immediately and referred me to Aster Hospital, Qusais,” she added.

“I started to panic as to what would happen to my hand. Damage to nerves and blood vessels can be critical. If not treated properly, it will lead to amputation. I was scared,” said Pinky.

At Aster Hospital, Qusais, Dr. Raghavendra K Siddappa, Specialist Orthopedics, attended to her. He evaluated her reports and swiftly moved her to the operation theatre. 

“Pinky’s case was complex and demanded time-sensitive action. She had suffered multiple fractures in her elbow. She had displaced and broken her left humerus bone. But what was more critical was the damage to the nerves and blood vessels.

The accident had caused compartment syndrome. The condition occurs when there is an obstruction to blood flow. If not rectified at the earliest, it affects the muscles and nearby nerves resulting in irreversible damage to the organ,” said Dr. Raghavendra.

The doctor explained that Pinky was already showing signs of compartment syndrome, including pain, numbness, faint pulse, and weakness with movements. Following the procedure, they reinstated the blood flow and fixed the fractures.

Pinky can now move her fingers and feels less pain. “I am so relieved. I cannot tell how scared I was. Thanks to Dr. Raghavendra for imparting confidence and helping me through the procedure. He has saved my hand. I am so thankful to the medical team at Aster Hospital, Qusais, for their exceptional care and treatment,” she added.

Discharged from the hospital, it will take at least a month for her fracture to get fixed. She will later undergo physiotherapy to regain the strength of her left hand. 

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About Aster Hospitals UAE

Aster Hospitals UAE is Aster DM Healthcare's continuation of its endeavor to create world-class, patient-centric hospitals driven by medical innovations and a culture of excellence. The Hospital aims to make a difference, with its patient-centric approach to medical care. The state-of-the-art multispecialty hospital in Mankhool is a 126-bedded medical facility, and Al Qusais a 150-bedded facility, where doctors adopt a multidisciplinary approach to provide holistic treatment to patients. Equipped with the most advanced Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in UAE, Aster Hospital offers multispecialty medical and surgical care all under one roof.

Aster DM Healthcare

Aster DM Healthcare Limited is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in GCC and in India. With an inherent emphasis on clinical excellence, we are one of the few entities in the world with a strong presence across primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary healthcare through our 27 hospitals, 118 clinics, 323 pharmacies and 66 labs & patient experience centres in seven countries, including India. We have over 24,350 plus dedicated staff including 3,110 doctors and 7,063 nurses across the geographies that we are present in, delivering a simple yet strong promise to our different stakeholders: "We'll treat you well." We reach out to all economic segments in the GCC states through our differentiated healthcare services across the "Aster", "Medcare" and "Access" brands. For more information, please visit www.asterdmhealthcare.com.