Two years and 10 operations: how medics from Ivano-Frankivsk saved soldier's leg from amputation – photo

Petro Yablinchuk was severely injured in the combat zone at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The medics have been saving his limb from being amputated for almost two years, conducting over 10 surgeries. Source: the Ivano-Frankivsk Central City Clinical Hospital

"In 2022 I went to war as a volunteer because I had combat experience. Before that I served in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone (i.e. the war zone in Donbas - ed.) for three years but my service in 2014-2017 was way easier," Petro recalls.

He was hospitalised on 13 March 2022, after just three days on the front line. He and his fellow soldiers were struck by Russian aircraft in Zhytomyr Oblast.

Medics have been restoring a soldier's limb for two yearsMunicipal public institution "Ivano-Frankivsk Central City Clinical Hospital"

Petro suffered a severe mine blast injury to his left leg.

In such cases, the limb is often amputated. "The back of the thigh, knee and shin had no skin and muscles at all. Since the artery was not damaged, the main goal of the medics was to save the limb," said Stepan Zelyk, head of the Traumatic Surgery, Orthopedics, Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery Department.

The dead tissue of the patient was removed many times, and skin plastic surgery was conducted in several stages. The medics note that the tissue had a significant defect. As a result of the mine-blast injury, a large area of skin was infected which made treatment more complicated.

A combustiologist (surgeon specialising in burns) joined the team, as he knew the difference between treatment of combat and civilian injuries.

At the end of March 2024, Petro was finally discharged from the hospital: his leg was fully healed.

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