Reconstructive Surgery Allows Patient to Regain Use of her Dominant Hand
Danna Olivo was in Brazil, enjoying a much needed vacation when tragedy struck. In the blink of an eye everything changed for the Orlando resident when she was hit by a bus while trying to cross a busy street. The impact would leave her with severe arm trauma and little to no use of her dominant right hand.
Three upper extremity surgeries later, she was released from the hospital in Brazil and cleared to return home to the United States.
Once on American soil, she immediately made an appointment with Michael D. Riggenbach, M.D., a board certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand and upper extremity surgery, peripheral nerve surgery and microsurgery at Orlando Orthopaedic Center.
“Dr. Riggenbach was extremely empathetic for what I was going through,” she says. “He went the extra mile to make sure I got as much function back as possible.”
During her first exam, Dr. Riggenbach quickly realized that if there was any hope of restoring the functionality in hand, additional surgery was necessary – and fast.
“I told her we had to go back in for another reconstructive surgery; and the sooner we did it the better chance she would have at using her right arm, wrist and hand like she did prior to the accident,” recalls Dr. Riggenbach. “Our goal was to restore as much function as possible. I’m happy to say we were able to help Danna get back to using her hand and arm at very similar levels to what she was used to prior to her injury.”
Michael D. Riggenbach, M.D
Dr. Riggenbach and his team used bone and tissue from Olivo’s hip to help reconstruct her arm which had not healed from the previous operations.
“Prior to surgery with Dr. Riggenbach, I couldn’t do much of anything with my wrist,” Olivo says. “Now I’m at the point where my wrist is pretty strong.”
Today, after months of physical therapy, Olivo is writing again with ease, opening doors without a second thought and even pouring her own morning coffee again – something she didn’t think she would ever be able to do while lying in a hospital bed in Brazil.
“I couldn’t be happier with Dr. Riggenbach or the results of my surgery,” she says. “I really appreciate the time he put in, especially in an era when doctors are forced to push patients through. He spent time with me and brought new technology and new techniques to the table.”
Now with full function nearly restored, Olivo is looking toward the future with a renewed sense of confidence, thanks to her reconstructive surgery.
“I’m very thankful to Dr. Riggenbach and appreciative of the progress he has helped me achieve,” she says. “Without his help I am not sure where I’d be or how much of my arm function I would have today.”
