For the first time, doctors at St. Nicholas Children’s Hospital in Lviv have performed three surgeries using stem cell therapy to treat children. According to the medical team, this innovative approach significantly accelerates tissue regeneration and promotes faster recovery.
One of the first patients was 17-year-old Bozhena Rakubovchuk, born with a rare condition causing the radius and ulna bones in her left arm to be fused. This greatly limited her range of motion and made daily tasks difficult.
“I always felt different. It was hard to watch others easily hold a cup or a spoon, get dressed, or wash their hands — things I struggled with every day,” shared Bozhena.
Last year, Bozhena underwent surgery, but her arm’s functionality did not fully recover. Due to the slow development of new bone tissue, the medical team decided to introduce stem cells to stimulate regeneration at the site of the bone fragments.
“There is already some fibrous tissue forming, but we want to see how stem cells will influence regeneration in bone conditions like this,” explained Halyna Hachkevych, head of the orthopedic and trauma department.
The procedure was carried out in collaboration with renowned Italian surgeon Roberto Brambilla, who brought his expertise in applying stem cell therapy to trauma, orthopedic cases, and surgical recovery.
“This method has wide applications — from injuries to burn complications. I’m pleased to be working with such skilled Ukrainian specialists,” said Brambilla.
In addition to Bozhena’s case, two other children underwent similar procedures due to post-burn and trauma-related conditions. The doctors expressed hope that this method will soon lead to significantly improved mobility for these young patients.