Beyond pain: The surgery that gave Lorna a new life

• Lorna, a woman from the Virgin Islands, traveled to Colombia for a shoulder replacement that significantly improved her quality of life.
• The procedure involved combining a cadaveric donor bone with a prosthesis to restore functionality to the patient’s joint.
• This surgery was performed for the first time at the Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC), marking the beginning of a new surgical era.

Bucaramanga, Colombia, January 2025. For several months, Lorna Flaharty lived with a painful condition in her right shoulder resulting from a car accident. This condition prevented her from performing any daily activities, from working to something as simple as brushing her hair.

“I can’t work. The things I want to do, I can’t do. So, you know, if I can’t work, I don’t have money, and I need to see someone who can fix my shoulder properly,” said the patient.

Following her accident, Lorna, originally from the British Virgin Islands, underwent an initial joint replacement and later four surgeries on her shoulder. However, none of these procedures produced the desired outcome. Her shoulder remained immobile, and as time went by, the need for a procedure to improve her condition became more urgent, as her quality of life continued to deteriorate.

That’s when the opportunity to seek medical care at the Hospital Internacional de Colombia (HIC) arose. Hearing this news, Flaharty did not hesitate to travel the 1,532 kilometers separating her island from Bucaramanga, a city in eastern Colombia, to access care at the HIC medical complex.

The surgery

Lorna’s condition was uncommon. Her shoulder was virtually destroyed and non-functional. In fact, her diagnosis was "prosthesis loosening due to bone loss." Restoring her mobility required a new and much more innovative joint replacement.

Dr. Carolina Villegas, an international patient specialist, explained that it was initially necessary to “remove the patient’s old prosthesis due to loosening, place a bone cement spacer, and then wait one to two months before removing the spacer to proceed with the final surgery.”

This new procedure, performed for the first time at HIC on an international patient, was more complex. It involved a shoulder surgery combining an allograft (tissue graft from a human donor) with a prosthesis. A cadaveric donor humerus was used to replace Lorna’s damaged humerus. After placing the graft, the surgeon implanted the prosthesis, ensuring it was securely fixed. In some cases, the graft and prosthesis work together to stabilize the joint.

Today, days after her procedure and through consistent medical follow-ups, Lorna has returned home, opening a new chapter in her life. Virtual follow-ups have been conducted, and her condition has improved significantly. “I came without a shoulder, and I’m leaving with a new one. I’ve done physical therapy, and they’ve made me feel very good. I would encourage anyone who is sick to come to HIC. They take care of your needs and ensure you’re well,” said Flaharty.

International care

The HIC has an international office dedicated to providing specialized care to patients from abroad who require medical treatments. With a bilingual team, we offer guidance and assistance from the moment patients plan their visit to the hospital. This includes coordinating medical appointments, explaining medications, and supporting their care, among other services. If you need help, contact us, and we will address your concerns.