Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah performs a delicate surgical intervention to save the career of a world champion

In a medical achievement that reflects the high readiness and advanced efficiency of the health system in the United Arab Emirates, the specialized medical teams at Al Qasimi Hospital in Sharjah, affiliated with the Emirates Health Services Corporation, succeeded in performing a precise and complex surgical intervention to save Australian racer Damon Cohen, driver of the F1H2O team, after he was seriously injured during his participation in the qualifying rounds for the Sharjah Grand Prix powerboat race.

The hospital had received the contestant immediately after his boat was involved in a severe accident at the first bend of the qualifying round, which resulted in a violent collision and a double capsize, requiring rapid intervention from rescue teams and his urgent transfer to the emergency department. Advanced clinical examinations and CT scans showed that he suffered multiple and complex fractures in the lumbar vertebrae, which included bone fragmentation within the spinal canal and severe narrowing that posed a direct threat to his neurological and motor functions, in addition to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs as a result of the severity of the impact.

Immediately upon his arrival, protocols for dealing with complex emergency cases were activated, as a multidisciplinary medical advisory team began developing an urgent treatment plan, which consisted of performing a precise surgical operation to restore the affected vertebrae, free the spinal canal, and stabilize the fractures. The operation was crowned with complete success thanks to the hospital’s technical readiness and advanced infrastructure, in addition to the specialized expertise of the surgical staff, which contributed to stabilizing the patient’s health condition and restoring his vital signs, as he is currently receiving the necessary rehabilitative care in the intensive care unit, and is expected to leave the hospital within the next few days.

Dr. Arif Al Nouryani, Director of Al Qasimi Hospital, said that the hospital’s success in dealing with this critical case of one of the world’s sports champions embodies the strategic vision of the Emirates Health Services Corporation in providing integrated and proactive health care, stressing that the hospital represents a reference center for dealing with complex sports injuries and major accidents, thus enhancing the UAE’s position as a leading destination for medical tourism, and also a safe and reliable one for hosting major international sporting events and tournaments, in light of the availability of a medical system capable of responding quickly and dealing with various challenges. Emergency health services with high efficiency.

For its part, the medical team supervising the case explained that the most prominent challenge was dealing with comminuted fractures and narrowing of the spinal canal with extreme precision to avoid any neurological complications that might affect the future of the athlete, pointing out that the speed of surgical intervention and the use of the latest advanced techniques in spinal surgery had a decisive role in achieving these positive results, as the patient currently enjoys a stable health condition and high morale, with a clear response to the approved therapeutic and rehabilitation program.

This success is added to the record of continuous medical achievements achieved by Al Qassimi Hospital, confirming its high readiness and the competence of its medical staff in dealing with the most delicate and complex cases, reflecting the development of the national health care system and its ability to keep pace with the highest international standards, and consolidating the international community’s confidence in the health services provided in the United Arab Emirates.