Rashid Hospital doctors save patient whose skin ripped off after a car ran her over, using a highly sophisticated grafting procedure

• Rashid Hospital doctors conducted a highly sophisticated grafting procedure using corpse/cadaver skin
• Rashid Hospital strives to provide quality healthcare using the latest medical advancements and state-of-the-art technology.

Dubai, UAE: Rashid Hospital doctors successfully completed a highly complicated grafting procedure to save the life of a Filipino expat who was left with exposed bones and muscle tissue after being run over by a car.

When 34-year-old Ana Marisa Perez went to walk her dog on a Thursday morning, she would have never imagined that moments later she would be fighting for her life.

“It was May 10 and as I was crossing the road with my dog when I was hit by the car. I fell but the driver did not noticed what happened and continued to run over my body. It was by the grace of god that another driver saw what was happening and told him to stop or I wouldn’t be here with you,” said Perez.

Perez was admitted to Rashid Hospital’s ER with serious injuries, she lost a large area of skin from her groin to her left foot exposing her bones and muscle tissues. She also sustained a pelvic and leg fracture.

After examining the case, Rashid Hospital doctors found that an immediate grafting procedure was necessary to prevent any further complications.

Skin grafting is a surgical procedure that involves removing skin from one area of the body and moving it, or transplanting it, to a different area of the body.

However, Dr Khalid Al Awadi, Head of the Hand and Microsurgery Unit at Rashid Hospital explained that in Perez’s case, using her own skin for grafting was not possible immediately because her bones and muscle tissues were exposed.

Instead, skin from a human corpse also known as cadaveric skin—which is skin removed from deceased person then processed and distributed by skin and tissue banks—was used.

“The first step we conducted was cleaning the wound and due to its severe state it required numerous sessions. Because the bones were exposed, there was no base to graft the patient’s skin on so we decided to use cadaver skin and apply it on the exposed bones and tendon to act as a scaffold.”

Dr Al Awadi explained that in this case using the patient’s own skin was not possible because it will not stick and heal on the exposed bones, which is why using the cadaver skin, which acted as scaffolding was the ideal treatment.

“After 5 days and after we made sure that the grafting procedure was successful and that the women’s body has accepted and adapted to the new cadaver skin, we started the second phase, which includes grafting the patient’s own skin and covering the cadaver skin and wound,” he added.

Dr Al Awadi explained that conducting this procedure was necessary to prevent the internal tissues from being exposed to air that contains microbes, moisture and pollutions. All these factors will prevent the wound from healing and makes it more prone to infection, he added.

Following the completion of both procedures in a couple of days, the doctors conducted tests and found that there were no infections meaning the body has accepted and adapted to the transplanted skin.

“The procedure was a complete success and she has completely recovered from the grafting surgery. She is now continuing her treatment with other departments at the hospital for the fractures she sustained and will hopefully discharge her soon in good health,” said Dr Al Awadi.

Commenting on the procedure from her hospital bed, Perez said she was pleased with the healthcare she received. “I am so happy because I thought before that I will never walk again, seeing my foot recovering and moving and my skin intact is truly a blessing. I thank Rashid hospitals and my doctors for this,” she said.

Dr Al Awadi concluded by stating that this procedure is the latest method in skin transplanting and that Rashid Hospital strives to continuously provide quality healthcare using the latest medical advancements and state-of-the-art technology.

About the Dubai Health Authority:

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Humaid Al Qatami, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority.

The DHA’s aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA’s mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff.  It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

© Press Release 2018