Watsi

Lim is a 24-year-old former truck driver from Cambodia who needs $1,500 to fund a hip replacement so he can walk on his own.

71%

$1,073 raised, $427 to go

$1,073

raised

$427

to go

Lim's story

November 15, 2022

Lim is a 24-year-old man from Cambodia. He and his wife were recently married, and she works as a garment factory worker. Lim was a truck driver, but now stays home due to his injury.

In February 2022, Lim was in a motorbike collision, which caused trauma to his right hip. He cannot walk without the help of crutches, and he is not able to help his wife around the house. He feels despondent due to his chronic pain and his inability to work.

Fortunately, our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Lim receive treatment. Doctors at CSC diagnosed him with a right hip fracture and dislocation and on November 15th, he will undergo a total hip replacement. Now, Lim needs help raising $1,500 to fund his procedure and care.

Lim shared, “after surgery, I hope my right hip will have no pain, I can walk without pain and work for my family again.”

Lim is a 24-year-old man from Cambodia. He and his wife were recently married, and she works as a garment factory worker. Lim was a truck dr...

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Lim's case was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.

Lim's Timeline

November 15, 2022
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Lim was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.
November 15, 2022
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Lim was scheduled to receive treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
November 18, 2022
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Lim's profile was published to start raising funds.
TODAY
AWAITING FUNDING
Lim is currently raising funds for his treatment.
TBD
AWAITING UPDATE
Awaiting Lim's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

Share Lim's story

Funded by 14 donors

Treatment

Hip arthroplasty-uncemented

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,500 for Lim's treatment

Hospital Fees

$171

Medical Staff

$494

Medication

Supplies

$827

Labs

Radiology

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients typically experience severe hip pain and difficulty walking or standing. By the time Children's Surgical Centre provides treatment, patients have often lived with these symptoms for months or more. A total hip replacement (THR) treats hips that are severely damaged and therefore not amenable to other forms of treatment.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Patients may not be able to walk or walk with great difficulty. Physical activity is extremely restricted, making any movement painful. This prevents patients from carrying out daily life, going to work, attending school, or taking care of themselves and their families.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Many Cambodians use motorbikes as their main form of transportation. Because of weak traffic laws, motorbike accidents are common. Injured individuals who cannot afford treatment often self-medicate or rely on Khmer traditional healers. Their fractures never heal, and patients live with the pain. Steroids are a common pain treatment in Cambodia. No prescription is required. Individuals who do intense physical labor take steroids regularly, which restricts blood flow to the joints. This causes bone tissue death and tiny bone breaks, making bones more susceptible to breaks and fractures.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

During a hip replacement, doctors replace both the acetabulum (hipbone socket) and femoral head (head of the femur) with prosthetic implants. Doctors remove the dead or broken bone. A cup is inserted into the acetabulum, and a metal hip prosthesis is inserted into the femur. Surgeons use a different technique to embed the prosthesis in the bones without using cement. The implant is more costly and preferred in patients that are younger.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

The patient will be able to walk independently without pain, improving their ability to work physical labor and quality of life.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Severe disability, arthritis, and avascular necrosis of the hip can be successfully treated by a THR. This treatment is highly effective, with few risks.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Most Cambodians visit Khmer traditional healers before seeking modern medical care. As recently as ten years ago, a total hip replacement was entirely unavailable in Cambodia. Children's Surgical Centre is one of the few centers that provide this procedure. This procedure is more costly than the more common cemented version, as any potential revision surgery in the future is easier and the hip replacement may last longer.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are other surgical alternatives, and much depends on the type of fracture, the health, and the age of the patient. Patients can elect to undergo hip fusion surgery and postpone the total hip replacement until later in life. In young Cambodian patients, surgeons may opt to use uncemented hip replacements albeit a more expensive procedure.

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