At the age of one, Thearith was diagnosed with meningitis. Ten months after receiving medical treatment, Thearith’s mother noticed that there was a problem with his left wrist. Thearith underwent physical therapy without success, and Thearith is still unable to flex the fingers in his left hand. Surgery will help to release the contracted tendons in his thumb and restore the damaged tendons in his wrist. Thearith will be able to regain use of his hand and fingers again. Thearith has three brothers and two sisters, and hopes to become a pharmacist one day.
Thearith from Cambodia raised $497 to fund surgery to gain use of his left hand.
- 100%
- $497 raised, $0 to go
- Thearith's story
- Thearith's update
Thearith did not undergo surgery to gain use of his left hand.
This patient was intended to be treated in coordination with our specialized visiting hand/BPI team from Singapore. However, due to time constraints, this patient’s procedure has been postponed until the team’s next visit, which has yet to be scheduled.
Thearith's Timeline
- October 4, 2019PROFILE SUBMITTED
Thearith was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
- October 4, 2019TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Thearith was scheduled to receive treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
- October 10, 2019PROFILE PUBLISHED
Thearith's profile was published to start raising funds.
- October 19, 2019FUNDING ENDED
Thearith is no longer raising funds.
Treatment
Nerve and Tendon Repair
- Cost Breakdown
- Diagnosis
- Procedure
On average, it costs $497 for Thearith's treatment
Hospital Fees
$86
Medical Staff
$363
Medication
$0
Supplies
$40
Labs
$3
Radiology
$5
- Symptoms
- Impact on patient's life
- Cultural or regional significance
What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?
A number of nerve and tendon procedures are performed at Children's Surgical Centre. These are typically performed because a nerve is no longer fully functional. Reasons for this limited functionality can include lacerations, blunt trauma, burns, and tumors. Sometimes, spinal nerves are compressed due to herniated discs, bone spurs, and tumors.
What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?
The patient cannot work or drive a motorbike, the most common form of transportation in Cambodia.
What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?
Traffic accidents, common in Cambodia, are the most typical cause of a brachial plexus injury (BPI), or damage to a network of nerves on the neck and shoulders.
The inability to use a limb is debilitating for patients, whose livelihoods involve physical activity. They are often farmers, factory workers, or drivers.
- Process
- Impact on patient's life
- Risks and side-effects
- Accessibility
- Alternatives
What does the treatment process look like?
When a nerve no longer functions, the muscle that it innervates no longer functions. Surgeons either repair that nerve or use a nerve from somewhere else in the body to act as a graft. In some cases, a nerve can be redirected from a less important muscle and grafted into a more critical nerve.
During a BPI surgery, surgeons divert a nerve from one destination and sew it into the non-functioning nerve. It can take three to six months before a patient fully recovers from this operation.
What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?
The patient will regain function in his or her arm. The patient can drive a motorbike and go back to work.
What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?
This surgery is highly effective. The nerve is already damaged, so there is no risk of causing more harm. The surgery can only improve function.
How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?
This surgery is not available to most Cambodians.
Patients travel up to twelve hours to visit Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). They learn about CSC from the radio, a neighbor, or a family member.
What are the alternatives to this treatment?
There are no alternative treatments to regain limb functionality.