General Hospital Begins Operations for Severe Spinal Deformities in Children

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The "Prim. dr. Abdulah Nakaš" General Hospital has begun performing operations for severe spinal deformities in children (scoliosis), with the first such operation conducted three days ago.

Prof. dr. Mirza Biščević stated that they performed the first surgery at the beginning of this week.

"This was an operation for the most severe spinal deformity in a young girl from Goražde, who has been suffering from this condition for several years. It took us some time to complete the organizational and technical preparations to be capable of performing this procedure, and, thank God, we have finally succeeded," explained Biščević.

According to him, the girl was walking the day after the surgery.

"The significance of these procedures lies in the fact that, by legal definition, this diagnosis represents the most common so-called rare diagnosis that is sent abroad for treatment. These are mostly patients for whom, unfortunately, money is very often collected, as you could see on portals, in order to send them abroad. We will do everything in our power to ensure that these patients no longer go abroad," emphasized Biščević.

He stressed that the second reason is that patients in Bosnia and Herzegovina have the opportunity to receive services in their own country with comfort and without language barriers from doctors who are known and trusted.

"Of course, there is also the economic aspect of treating these patients, as their treatment in the country costs ten to 20 times less than treatment abroad. The minimum cost of going abroad is 60,000 KM, and prices can go over 200,000, depending on the type of procedure. Here, they are incomparably lower, approximately five to ten thousand. I will use this opportunity to appeal to the health funds of the cantons, the Federation of BiH, and the RS to reduce administrative obstacles and help these patients access our hospital more easily and be treated here," said Biščević.

The Director of the General Hospital "Prim. dr. Abdulah Nakaš", prof. dr. Ismet Gavrankapetanović, stated that this procedure can be performed for the Federation of BiH, but he hopes it will soon be available for the RS as well.

As he said, the procedure is specific, special, and highly demanding.

"On Monday, we operated on our first patient, and she is doing well. It is important for people to know that there is no longer a need for children to go anywhere, to any center abroad. This saves millions of KM, as these are very expensive and the most complex procedures in orthopedic surgery," said Gavrankapetanović.

It was stated that they are using the most modern American implants, which are used all over the world.