In Kazakhstan, for the first time, operations were performed to separate the fingers of children with epidermolysis bullosa, the MIR 24 portal reports.

This severe genetic disease, inherited, is also called "butterfly disease". The skin and mucous membranes of such patients are so fragile that they are damaged by any touch, forming blisters and poorly healing wounds. The hands are especially severely injured: due to permanent wounds on the skin, the fingers grow together, and the patient cannot lead a normal life. Often such children are forced to spend their whole lives at home, with almost no contact with the outside world.

Previously, "butterfly" patients were operated on abroad, but now the method of dividing fingers in such patients is being introduced at the Children's Clinical Hospital of Almaty. The master class is conducted by experts from St. Petersburg. Such operations usually last from two to five hours, the complexity is caused by the fragility of the skin and mucous membranes, it is difficult for patients to give anesthesia and intubate. During the operation, not only the separation of the fingers takes place, but also the skin is transplanted to those areas where it can take root.

After separating the fingers, butterfly children will be able to use their hands and take objects, but skin care (treatment, dressings) will still be necessary.

There are currently 108 such patients in Kazakhstan, children and adults, and five need urgent surgery.