Another Surgery in Beijing - March 21, 2014 - From Ankle to Femur

 Spent time this spring at the  National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids in Beijing for another set of surgeries with Prof. Qin Sihe. See:

China - National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids - Surgery Report
Great place where all the best in Orthopedic Research in China appear now to have been centralized. It combines not only the presence of the best orthopedic surgeons, but also, the best physical and occupational therapy programs to be found in China, together with the best orthotics, all centralized in one place.

Received great treatment there, for which I was much grateful.

One step at a time, we get there..

http://www.gjkfyy.com/_d276632469.htm 



Philibert Kongtcheu

Stories that break the heart and warm it up at the same time

And she is so beautiful!

I don't know what is the root for her scoliosis and her muscular atrophies, but these are the typical sequelae of polio and the hospital for special surgery and the scoliosis research effort there is the most focused and one of the most advanced in the world.





http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/04/30/nyregion/1247467746198/a-life-of-determination-and-dependence.html

Please volunteer to translate if you can - Help Make Information on Surgical Treatment Options for paralytic post polio patients available

More information is available at:

http://knol.google.com/k/phil-kongtcheu/helping-make-surgical-treatment-options/24v2kgtuvzk2v/17#

or by clicking on the title. The particpation form is the link below.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cklwQkdzX01GOFJ6c2Z2MUU5b3hyQlE6MA..

Thank you!

Calf augmentation using free TRAM flap. [Microsurgery. 1999] - PubMed Result

Calf augmentation using free TRAM flap. [Microsurgery. 1999] - PubMed Result

Look at the results of this article:

From Calf_Augmentation

This picture was taken one year post surgery on this 27 year old Korean from Stanford CA who is a post polio patient who had atrophy of the posterior compartment musculature of her
left calf with a foot drop . The authors of the article assert the results were excellent.

Which just prompts the Chico Marx quote:"Who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?"

Based on this picture I draw a rather negative conclusion on the outcome and sees it as exemplifying the sometimes clueless physicians whose sense of their own importance tend to lead them force their own theory against recalcitrant facts.

As many of the testimonies (See for example Eileen Gruba) I share in this site and the books reviewed show, there are many of them in the post polio treatment business. I see this as further evidence.

I have the same condition, perhaps a more severe one, since I did not had any of the corrective surgeries this female had as a child.

Rather than doing cosmetic surgery as she did, starting in 2006, I had muscle transfer surgeries to strenghten my Achille's tendon. Then the tibia was lengthened to equalize both lower legs, which helped correct the foot drop.

Now I am doing calf strengthening physical therapy to steadily grow the calf muscle. I feel more confident that over time I will get better and more natural results that give intrinsic strength to my leg and body, including and beyond the cosmetic appearance.

Slide the whole article:

Riveting Story - "In the Shadow of Polio"

Polio Treatment centers in the world that I know of

This a list of Centers that I know can provide specialized surgical help for the treatment of various neuro musculo skeletal post polio impairments.

Country:US

Hospital for special surgery

This hospital has one of the best reputations in the US for specialized surgeries and frequently ranks at the top of US news & world report rankings for orthopedics
However after browsing its ages I have not seen anything specifically directed towards polio treatment.
Recommended for Bones deformities:& physical therapy
http://www.hss.edu/
Bones deformities:
Website: http://www.hss.edu/condition-list_limb-lengthening-deformity.asp

With primary residence in Jersey City, NJ, I wanted to go and check this hospital for myself. Initial Consultation: $350. Most insurance won't reimburse or won't reimburse enough.

Pakistan
The Post Polio & Rehabilitation Surgery Clinic
http://www.omchospital.com/Inline/polio.html
The website is currently blocked from China, but when I checked it two years ago it seemed to have an integrated approach to the treatment that I liked a lot.
However, right now there is the country risk
China
Prof. Qin Sihe
According to Prof. Qin's book, "The surgical treatment of the post poliomyelitis sequelae" published in Chinese, China still has about 2 million people with various degrees of polio related impairments. Qin himself has performed surgeries on over 15000 cases.
He is currently my primary physician on the disease in cooperation with Guangji Hospital in Beijing. He already performed surgeries on me an I plan to have a couple more surgeries with him this year. If you ever go to see him, mention my name 孔书 （pronounced: kongshu in Chinese）. His website:http://www.qinsihe.com

Mayo Clinic
Website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-polio-syndrome/DS00494
Emphasis is on Post Polio Syndrome effects, but the center has excellent reputation and top tier related surgical specialties. I tried to go there in early 2006 but the process of scheduling an appointment was too tortuous for me. I had to have a physician referral first and then wait for a couple months

Post Polio Institute
I should also mention the post polio institute in Englewood NJ. The website contains a lot of useful information about how to handle Post Polio Syndrome effects. He is very active in having PPS survivors rights recognized in the US and bring great awareness to the disease in general. His practice does not emphasize surgical options.
Website: www.postpolioinfo.com/

Country: Turkey
Istanbul
Sema Hospital
Website: http://www.semahastanesi.com.tr/2008/en/icerik.php?id=123
Found through web search. Inquire for yourself.

Most Centers that do limb lengthening also correct bone related deformities. There are too many to name; a simle google search should help find one near where you live

Introduction to polio - If you're not too sure about the subject

This short 6 minutes movie gives you a laid back simplified introduction to the disease, how it works, its history and the people who suffered from it.

Inspiring Stories: Eileen Gruba

Eileen tells here more eloquently than I probably could many of the feelings and situations that I have experienced myself so I will begin by sharing this. Hopefully I will package more substantive material as time goes by.

Polio: Eileen Grubba's Story -- powered by http://www.livestrong.com