The height of a Kyrgyz young girl with congenital scoliosis increased by 10 cm at the age of 20.

Karima Tagaeva, who is a congenital scoliosis (spinal curvature) patient, started searching for solutions for her progressing illness when she could not find treatment in her hometown Kyrgyzstan. Medical student Tagaeva found the remedy in Antalya. After the operation performed by Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Ömer Bozduman, the young girl overcame her disease, and her height increased by 10 cm after the surgery. Tagaeva, who recounted the operation with tears, said, “Before the surgery, I was very short; now I have grown a lot. It will be a surprise for everyone. I am very grateful to my doctor.” Assoc. Dr. Ömer Bozduman stated, “We got the patient up the day after the operation; she was very happy when she saw herself physically in the mirror while walking. When she was happy, we were happy too.”

Karima Tagaeva, who is a medical student in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, began searching for a solution when she realized that her disease could not be treated in her country. Tagaeva, who struggled with spinal curvature due to issues in the formation or differentiation of vertebrae before birth, found the remedy in Antalya. After her research, she learned that her disease could be treated at Memorial Antalya Hospital and sought the help of Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Ömer Bozduman.

“There was a significant increase in height”

Assoc. Dr. Ömer Bozduman stated that the Kyrgyz patient reached him through the hospital’s international health tourism unit and said, “Karima is 20 years old, came from Kyrgyzstan. She is a medical student with a congenital spinal problem. She is a case of congenital kyphoscoliosis with adhesions in her spine, and the curvature of her spine had significantly increased when viewed from both the side and the front. Due to the advanced degree of her hunchback, her abdominal area was under serious pressure. From an outside perspective, you couldn’t even recognize the lumbar curves. Imagine being pressed like an accordion. There was a serious shortening in her height, and due to the significant progression of these degrees, the patient experienced a decrease in effort capacity, advanced internal organ pressure due to the curvature, and a decline in quality of life. After the initial examination and tests of our patient, we carried out the pre-surgery preparations. We operated on her last Friday, and everything went smoothly. During the surgery, we placed the instrumentation system called the Viderot system, and there was a significant increase in her height.”

“She was very happy when she saw herself physically in the mirror while walking”

Emphasizing that there were no problems after the surgery, Assoc. Dr. Ömer Bozduman reported that the patient started walking the day after the operation. Bozduman said, “Since she is studying medicine, she was familiar with the topic and knew about the treatment. Despite everything, she had some concerns, but we talked, and she understood everything. She bravely completed the process. The day after the surgery, we got the patient up, and she was very happy when she saw herself physically in the mirror while walking. When she was happy, we were happy too. We showed her family how to mobilize her in the ward, and we discharged her. The increase in height is seen to be over 7 cm radiologically, so she is in good spirits. We will send her back to her homeland happily.”

“If the patient’s current condition remained the same, it would lead to problems like osteoporosis”

Assoc. Dr. Bozduman drew attention to the rapid progression of the spinal curvature due to the treatment that could not be performed in her country despite having a known congenital disease. He stated that if the patient’s current condition remained the same, she could face more serious problems. Bozduman continued: “Most families are aware of congenital diseases, and it is not a situation that goes unnoticed like those that appear during adolescence. The patient could not prevent this progression despite receiving various physical therapies in her homeland because it progressed very quickly. Since she could not receive adequate treatment within technological and available means, she entered a rapidly progressing phase. For this reason, she reached out to us. If the patient’s current condition remained the same, it could lead to problems like osteoporosis, and the disease could progress more, causing a decline in quality of life or leading to more serious problems.”

A call for observation to families

Assoc. Dr. Ömer Bozduman finally issued warnings to parents. He stated that families should observe their children carefully and concluded his speech as follows: “In the age group of 10-15 years when entering adolescence, children can hide themselves a bit; families should definitely check and observe the asymmetry between their shoulders, chest level, and the space between their arms and bodies. If necessary, they should look for any asymmetry in the back by bending slightly forward. If there is any problem that does not sit well with them, they should definitely consult an Orthopedics and Traumatology specialist. Early diagnosis provides many patients the opportunity to overcome this process without surgery, so this is very important. Our people need to become aware of this issue, and keeping their children under constant observation will prevent many children from undergoing unnecessary surgeries, so our call is for our citizens to observe their children as much as possible and to consult doctors when they notice something.”

“I am grateful to my doctor”

Kyrgyz patient Karima Tagaeva described her experience as follows: “I came with fourth-degree scoliosis; I was experiencing shortness of breath after long walks and was struggling a lot. My legs were hurting, I could not sleep properly, I could not walk, and I was very uncomfortable with my appearance. For this reason, I started searching for remedies; I found Turkey for surgery and came to Antalya. I finished the first year of medical school; I felt very bad before the surgery. After the surgery, my pain decreased, and I feel better. I no longer experience shortness of breath. The operation went very well; I recommend my doctor to everyone, I am very grateful to him, and I am very satisfied.”

“It will be a surprise for everyone”

Tagaeva, who stated that she wanted to come to Turkey to practice medicine after finishing university, indicated that she first video-called her family after the surgery and noted that her new state would be a surprise for many friends when she returned to Kyrgyzstan. Tagaeva said, “I also want to graduate from my university and become a successful doctor; I would like to come to Turkey to become a doctor in the future. I dream of being a General Surgeon. After I came out of surgery, I first video-called my brother, my father, and my friends. Everyone was very worried and wished me success. Some of my friends from school do not know that I had surgery, it will be a surprise when I go back, and they will be very surprised. Before the surgery, I was very short; now I have grown a lot. They will be very surprised. It will be a surprise for everyone.”