Teen regains mobility with innovative treatment at Sidra Medicine

A teenager has regained mobility with innovative treatment at Sidra Medicine. Diagnosed at birth with Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) of his foot, life for then 14-year-old Simon Saade was a constant struggle.

In his early childhood, Simon underwent several corrective procedures abroad. However, the procedures did not produce the desired results causing one of his legs to become longer than the other; forcing him to rely on crutches to balance his movement. Simon also continued to face health risks. The Saade family, originally from Lebanon but residing in Qatar, were advised to seek treatment at Sidra Medicine.

Understanding the complexity of Simon's case, Sidra Medicine’s Interventional Radiology Department (IR) formulated a personalised treatment plan that included several sessions of embolisation. The IR team’s treatment of Simon’s AVM focused on managing the symptoms and reducing his risk of bleeding, which in turn helped improve his quality of life.

Endovascular Embolisation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a catheter navigated through a small incision in the groin.

Dr Walid Mubarak, Interventional Radiology Attending physician and Clinical Lead at Sidra Medicine, said: "What makes this intervention stand out is its minimally invasive nature and selectivity, allowing us to access the third-degree branches of the foot. This cutting-edge approach is not available in many children's hospitals, as it requires going deep into the vascular system. The impact of the procedure is almost immediate, eliminating the need for long hospital stays. Simon was able to go home the next day, with only a small band-aid on his thigh.”

This was the first phase of Simon’s treatment programmme, promising a quick and effective recovery without the usual side effects of traditional surgeries.

"The doctors at Sidra Medicine explained everything clearly, ensuring I was involved every step of the way. The Interventional Radiology team prioritised my wellbeing, and their goal was to get me walking again. The procedures they performed led to a faster recovery with less pain and without any complications, unlike anything I'd experienced before," said Simon.

Following his embolisation at Sidra Medicine, Simon also needed vascular corrective surgery – a procedure that could only be performed abroad. The IR team at Sidra Medicine facilitated this process by creating a 3D printed model of Simon’s foot. This effectively illustrated the malformation and the issues from the procedure he had in his early childhood. The detailed model was then sent to a specialist surgeon in France, enabling them to meticulously plan for the corrective surgery.

After the corrective surgery in France, Simon also needed plastic surgery to aid in his recovery process. His parents chose to come back to Sidra Medicine for the procedure. Despite undergoing numerous procedures over several years, Simon’s recovery after each embolisation was remarkably swift and nearly painless.

He regained his ability to walk without crutches and could do all the activities of a normal teenager. The backpack full of medical supplies, which had been a constant companion, was finally retired to the back of the closet. Five years on, Simon is now a university student and is no longer hindered by pain while walking.