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Tygerberg Hospital Achieves South Africa’s First Internal Bone Transport Surgery
A life-changing medical breakthrough has taken place in the Western Cape. Tygerberg Hospital has become the first public or private medical centre in South Africa to perform a fully internal bone transport and limb lengthening reconstruction. The operation, completed in partnership with Stellenbosch University, has placed the hospital among a small group of global pioneers who can offer this advanced limb salvage technique to patients who need it most.
A journey from trauma to hope
The patient at the centre of this achievement is a 64-year-old former police officer. Since a gunshot wound in 2018, he has lived with unrelenting pain, a persistent fracture that would not heal, and one leg shorter than the other. Multiple operations elsewhere still left him unable to regain his mobility and quality of life.
Everything changed when specialists at Tygerberg Hospital used an internal device to reconstruct a 50 millimetre section of missing bone and correct a 30 millimetre difference in leg length. The technology allows the bone to gradually regenerate and lengthen from the inside. No bulky external frames. No wires or pins exposed to infection. Less discomfort during recovery and a shorter rehabilitation timeline.
Leadership in South African surgical innovation
The procedure was led by Professor Nando Ferreira with fellow surgeons Dr Edward Fuzy and Dr Jayesh Haribhai, who have spent years building world-class limb reconstruction capability within the public sector. Professor Ferreira expressed the deep significance of the moment. For many patients like this former officer, internal bone transport provides a real chance to return to mobility and everyday living.
Dr Fuzy noted that what once took several complex surgeries can now be achieved in a carefully coordinated single intervention. The hospital’s chief executive, Dr Matodzi Mukosi, praised the team as an example of the talent and innovation that exists in South Africa’s public hospitals.
Better outcomes for communities that rely on public healthcare
The Western Cape government has described the milestone as an important step in strengthening healthcare services for the 85 percent of residents who rely on the public system. In a province where trauma-related injuries affect many families, this kind of progress offers hope that independence, work opportunities, and well-being can be restored.
The benefits extend far beyond one patient. Children with congenital limb differences could face brighter futures. Older adults living with brittle bones and mobility challenges may recover faster and with greater comfort. International interest is already growing, highlighting the Western Cape’s rising leadership in advanced surgical care.
Healing that continues long after surgery day
The reconstructed bone will grow over approximately 100 days, followed by months of careful strengthening. Throughout that time, the patient and his medical team will walk a road many others in South Africa have never had access to before.
This procedure is more than just a scientific achievement. It shows what becomes possible when public hospitals receive the support, academic collaboration, and recognition they deserve. Most importantly, it shows that people who have suffered through trauma can once again stand tall and move forward.
South Africa is not only witnessing a milestone in theatre. It is witnessing a powerful reminder that innovation and compassion can change lives forever.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: SABC News
