High-complexity surgery performed at the Women's Hospital restores movement to patient

“I was very well attended, everyone welcomed me, and gave me attention. I am happy because I can already see changes after the surgery. I can make movements that I could no longer do with my arm,” says the self-employed Anair Pereira, a resident of the municipality of Abel Figueiredo, in southeastern Pará, who was referred to undergo neurosurgery at the Women's Hospital of Pará (HMPA) in Belém.

For eight months, she had been living with pain, swelling, and nerve injuries in one of her arms and one of her hands, which prevented her from doing her activities. Examinations were requested to schedule the neurosurgery.

According to surgeon Antônio Carlos Corrêa, the clinical picture compromised motor function with paralysis of the left hand, arm, and shoulder, due to injury to the bundle of nerves that start from the spine and extend to the muscles of the shoulder, arm, and hand. When they do not function properly, there is a loss of sensitivity and strength in the arms, which can lead to paralysis. In this case, the indication was for a high-complexity surgery.

“An ‘infraclavicular neurolysis of the brachial plexus’ and ‘transposition of the supinator nerve’ were performed. The technique consists of opening the shoulder area and, through microsurgery, removing adhesions and scars (fibrosis) that compress the nerves, leading to their malfunction. Since the weakness in the hand was severe, nerve transposition was also necessary, which consists of taking a functional nerve and suturing it to a diseased nerve, so that the diseased nerve can recover its function,” the doctor explained.

Result - The specialist also emphasized that the results are positive. “She could not move her hand or arm and was depressed because of it. Now, she can perform some movements observed in the second postoperative evaluation. The result tends to improve over time, as the additional results from the nerve transposition may appear gradually. At the end of the recovery period, she will be able to provide for herself again,” he assessed.

The surgery was a milestone for the patient, who continues to have periodic follow-up at the Hospital. “I am recovering very well. I no longer feel the pain I had before. My hand is slowly starting to move again, especially since the surgery was very extensive, it needs to heal. I believe first in God, and then in the procedure that was performed at this Hospital with excellent quality professionals. I believe everything will return to normal. I am very satisfied, happy, because we see the result and the dedication of the professionals at this Hospital,” Anair stated.

Reference - The Women's Hospital of Pará was inaugurated on March 8 of this year, and has 11 floors and 120 beds, of which 100 are for hospitalization and 20 for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Among the services offered, gynecological emergency and urgent care, as well as assistance to women in situations of domestic and sexual violence, stand out. There are outpatient clinics for endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and gigantomastia, in addition to consultations with a multidisciplinary team including a physiotherapist, nutritionist, psychologist, and social worker.

The structure includes services in gynecology, cardiology, mastology, urology, orthopedics, proctology, general, vascular, urological, and neurological surgery, and physiatry for pain treatment. The surgical block is equipped with four operating rooms, equipped with radiotransparent surgical tables, essential for complex procedures.

The unit also offers laboratory and imaging tests, such as mammograms, magnetic resonance imaging, CT scans, and bone densitometry, in order to ensure a precise and rapid diagnosis, essential for the effective treatment of patients. In five months of operation, approximately 20,000 specialized consultations, more than 100,000 laboratory and imaging tests, and over 2,600 surgeries were performed.

The HMPA reinforces that procedures like this are part of the unit's commitment to providing specialized and high-complexity care, with an emphasis on rehabilitation and the quality of life of patients.

Service: To access tests and consultations at the Women's Hospital of Pará, the patient must initially seek care at a Basic Health Unit (UBS), in a health unit in the municipality where they reside or the nearest region, or obtain a medical referral at the Usinas da Paz. The Women's Hospital of Pará is located at Avenida Gentil Bittencourt, No. 2175, São Brás neighborhood.