Today
Broadly speaking, we have had a tremendously busy 18 months with a lot of effective and positive work being carried out by the team. To date the foundation has given 160 children the opportunity to be examined by orthopedic surgeons; 53 children the chance to be fitted with orthopedic equipment, including 5 children who required surgery beforehand.
During the two next visits in July and in September, the surgical team hopes to operate on two children and fit seven new children with the equipment they're in need of.
May 2010
During their one week visit, technicians Dimitri and Kilian equipped many children. As for Dr. Fragnière and Manuela Maleeva, a total of 53 children were given a consultation, including 14 new cases.
A large amount of clinical activity took place during this short period, so overall, it was a very positive trip!
February 2010
A 4 day mission carried out by Dr. Fragnière and Manuela Maleeva, and a week mission for technicians Dimitri and Kilian. The team performed many checks on the various splints in use, they equipped all children on standby, and considered new cases.
November 2009
Much work was carried out during a four-day mission to Stara Zagora by Dr. Fragnière and Manuela Maleeva and technicians, Dimitri and Kilian: Five children were equipped with splits enabling them to walk and little Edith’s growth spurt meant that her original ortho-prosthesis had to be remade. It was also noted that many more apparatuses, made & fitted by the Foundation at the beginning of the year, are also going to have to be adjusted or re-made to allow for growth.The team saw many new cases in Sofia. Word-of-mouth marketing there has brought in little ones in need from all corners of Bulgaria.
A visit was made to children equipped with the “Small Prince”, in particular Maria who has made great progress over the last two months. Her confidence has grown enormously since the operation.
It was also a very heart-warming sight to see Geko running around with his buddies after his postoperative plaster was removed and an orthopedic shoe, that Kilian had made last year, was re-adapted for him. To witness such joy from the little boy only two months after his surgery was very moving indeed! Geko’s shoe will have to be re-made at the beginning of 2010.
September 2009
Dr. Fragnière and Manuela Maleeva, accompanied by two technicians, Kilian and Steven, returned to Stara Zagora once again for another four day mission. The technicians remained for a whole week in order to produce more equipment, make improvements to existing supplies and renew apparatuses which had become too small.
The surgical procedures carried out on Jenko and Katerina went very well.
Many consultations on current and new children were carried out in Stara Zagora and Sofia with a total of nine new orders made for splints. It will be necessary to envisage the renewal of apparatuses that have become too small as of winter 2009.
A meeting was arranged with Dr. Kehayov, one of the doctors responsible for orthopedic pediatrics at the university hospital in Sofia. He invited Dr. Fragnière to use their hospital to carry out complex operations which require particular technical support. This very important contact will enable us to collaborate in a very effective way in the future.
July 2009
Dr. Bruno Fragnière and Manuela Maleeva, who were accompanied by Dimitri, one of the technicians, travelled to Stara Zagora and Sofia for a four day mission.
Maria was their first priority. Six weeks after her complex operation, the plaster and pins in her left foot were removed and she was fitted with two splints and a Velcro bind for the night. Maria’s assessment was most positive. She even managed to stand upright and take a few unaided steps. She was delighted and emotions ran high amongst all who were there to witness her happiness.
Emil was also fitted with two splints six weeks after the operation on his Achilles' tendons.
During their four day mission, twenty-five consultations on new children were carried out in Stara Zagora.
A meeting was also held with Dr Kehayov and Professor Billette, two very influential people in the orthopedic world who can help make the mission in Sofia a success.
Two surgical procedures were planned for their next visit in September. These will be carried out on Jeko, who requires an operation on the tendons in his left foot, and Katerina, who will undergo multisite simultaneous tendon surgery on her knees and hips.
May 2009
On May 29th, Dr Bruno Fragnière, accompanied by Dr. Peter Bratoev, carried out the first large surgical procedure on eight year old Maria’s deformed feet and the tendons in her knee. This intervention will make it possible for Maria to take her first independent steps. Thanks to excellent teamwork in the surgical unit, the operation went smoothly and the doctors are very happy with the result.
A second procedure was also carried out on seven year old Emil, The operation on Emil’s Achilles' tendons proceeded well and in July Emil will be equipped with two closed orthopedic shoes.
During their stay, the team benefitted from a meeting with Jovko, an orthopedic surgeon in Sofia, who is also self-taught in the area of orthopedic shoe technology. This meeting made it possible to start a collaboration which will enable us to have invaluable contact details of orthopedic material suppliers at particularly advantageous prices.
Whilst the team was still in Sofia, ten new children were fitted with orthopedic equipment and the necessary adjustments to their individual fittings were carried out by the technicians.
March 2009
Dr Bruno Fragnière and the technicians returned to Stara Zagora. The 10 children taken on by the Foundation in January were all equipped with the orthopaedic equipment they each needed. The team then went to Sofia to carry out further consultations with many more needy children.
January 2009
Dr Bruno Fragnière returned to Stara Zagora with the technicians in order to hold a consultation and study of the equipment needed for 10 additional children taken on by the Foundation. During this trip, the Foundation’s first surgical procedure was carried out by Dr Fragnière. Six weeks later, young Martin was equipped with orthopaedic sandals.
December 2008
The technicians returned to Stara Zagora to fit Edice and Zlatan with their prostheses and body cast.
Nedko, the Bulgarian orthopaedic technician currently in training, took an active part in this phase and will guarantee a follow-up for the children under the Foundation’s supervision. He was also involved in making the first braces at the end of November.
Nedko is very motivated and has excellent knowledge of orthopaedic equipment. Furthermore, he has an orthopaedic shop in Stara Zagora and is being trained as an orthopaedic shoemaker.
Due to an important demand for orthopaedic care in Sofia, the technicians also visited children in need there.
November 2008
The Foundation's team, accompanied by an orthopaedic technician from Rieder SA, went to Stara Zagora to take plaster moulds from specific children and to make and fit walking braces for others.
- Slavi (7 years old), Dragostina (6 years old) and Tonica (10 years old): were all fitted with walking braces.
- Edice, 7 years old: plaster mould was taken in order to make articulated knee prosthesis..
- Jecko, 7 years old: a new orthopaedic prosthesis measurement was taken.
- Zlatan, 7 years old: mould for a corset made.
September 2008
Two members of the Foundation’s Board, Dr Bruno Fragnière and Manuela Maleeva, went to Stara Zagora with an independent qualified master orthopaedic specialist, to set the following steps in motion:
- To plan for the commitments and first actions of the Swiss and Bulgarian staff at Stara Zagora starting, in December 2008.
- To sign a collaboration agreement with the Stara Zagora German-Bulgarian centre.
- To meet the Deputy Mayor of Stara Zagora to discuss the integration of the Swissclinical Foundation into the town’s 2009 budget and the possible eventual availability of a new independent premises where a new orthopaedic centre can be constructed.
- To set up concrete collaboration with Dr Peter Bratoev for surgical treatment needed by the children, starting in January 2009.
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