Pregnant Princess Eugenie visits London hospital where she had an operation for scoliosis as a child

By William On Feb 28, 2023

Princess Eugenie cut a graceful figure as she revisited the London hospital where she underwent surgery for scoliosis as a child.

The 32-year-old granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II opted for a monochrome houndstooth coat with a black midi dress and matching knee-high boots for her trip to the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital, of which she is a patron.

Eugenie, daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, visited the hospital’s Prosthetic Rehabilitation Unit for the first time to see where life-changing prosthetics are made.

Today’s occasion certainly held special significance for Eugenie as she underwent surgery at the hospital to correct scoliosis (curvature of the spine) when she was just 12 years old.

She said: ‘I am delighted to be here today to see once again the life-changing work that goes on at the hospital. This is a charity that is very close to my heart.

Princess Eugenie (pictured with a patient) cut a graceful figure as she revisited the London hospital where she underwent surgery for scoliosis as a child.

“After everything I went through as a child with scoliosis, I know firsthand how debilitating an orthopedic condition can be.”

The royal continued: ‘It has been inspiring to meet the people here today who have benefited from the experience of the hospital’s staff and services and to hear first-hand how life has changed for them, as it was for me as a child.

“The RNOH charity is integral to what the hospital achieves by providing such stellar care to so many people.”

The visit coincides with the launch of the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital (RNOH)’s new charity campaign to make the ‘impossible, possible’ for people dealing with complex orthopedic conditions.

The charity supports the work of the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital, which treats patients of all ages with difficult orthopedic conditions, including spinal cord injuries, bone cancer, scoliosis and acute hip and knee problems.

Eugenie, who is pregnant with her second child, became a patron of the RNOH charity Redevelopment Campaign in April 2012 and subsequently the RNOH charity in March 2019.

She has met several patients who are being treated at the hospital, including two-year-old Posie-Aurora Sadler-Smith, from Suffolk, who suffers from a rare disorder, hemimelia fibula, which means the bones of her lower extremities do not meet. developed correctly.

The family first met the team at the hospital when Posie’s mother was pregnant and began treatment when Posie was just six months old.

Her mother, Jodie Weeder, 27, said: “We can’t thank RNOH and the RNOH Charity enough for giving Posie the chance to walk using a prosthesis.”

‘Her support over the last two years gave us hope for her future and allowed her to be able to do things that every child her age should be able to do; run and play, and in particular dance, something she loves to do.

“Watching her stand up for the first time with her two prosthetic legs was truly amazing – they really have made the ‘impossible’ possible for our little girl.”

The work of the Prosthetic Rehabilitation Unit includes the provision, maintenance and repair of prosthetics together with a rehabilitation service provided by a multidisciplinary team for a variety of patients, from young children to veterans.

Meanwhile, the charity’s campaign aims to raise awareness of the incredible work of RNOH and the charity, which needs more than £1m a year for the next three years to “strengthen RNOH’s role as a center of world class for orthopedic medicine”.

WHAT IS SCOLIOSIS?

Scoliosis is the lateral curvature of the spine, which can cause uneven shoulders and poor-fitting clothes.

The condition is thought to affect up to three percent of people in the US and UK and usually arises during a growth spurt just before puberty.

Treatment is not always necessary for cases of mild scoliosis. However, a brace can help prevent the curve from worsening as patients age.

If scoliosis progresses rapidly in a young child, rods can be inserted to straighten the spine and adjust their length as the patient grows.

Surgery may be required for severe cases, which can reduce the amount of space in the chest and make it harder for the lungs to work.

The most common procedure is called a spinal fusion, which is major surgery that helps correct the curve, the National Health Service says. It can last up to seven hours.

It is about connecting two or more bones in the vertebrae so that they cannot move independently. Metal rods or screws keep the spine straight.

Scoliosis can be caused by cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy, birth defects, injury, or infection. However, its cause is often unknown.

In addition to funding general improvements to the patient experience and clinical research, the money raised will also fund specific items such as state-of-the-art imaging equipment, spinal cord injury center day room transformation, and increased pioneering orthopedic research.

Eugenie was diagnosed with scoliosis and underwent corrective surgery when she was just 12 years old, with a pair of eight-inch titanium rods inserted through the length of her spine to reconstruct it as a result of a curvature.

The operation resulted in a prominent scar, which Eugenie wore proudly, opting for a backless gown for her wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018.

In an interview before the wedding, the princess said: “I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it’s really special to stand up for that.”

Rosie Stolarski, Chief Executive of the RNOH Charity, said: “For the last 100 years, the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital has been doing the impossible and achieving things that no other hospital can do, and that’s what makes this hospital extraordinary.” .

“But being extraordinary requires a huge investment, so we have launched this campaign so our charity can ensure the hospital continues its vital role in rebuilding people’s lives and helping make the impossible possible for many more. who need it.”

‘We need to raise over £1 million this year to continue to support our hospital’s visionary plans.

‘This means continuing to support essential programs that help improve staff well-being and morale; fund valuable volunteer service; contribute to crucial research and state-of-the-art equipment; and support much-needed redevelopment projects.’

Dominic Dodd, Chairman of the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital added: ‘It’s fantastic that the charity is launching the Impossible, Possible campaign in support of RNOH.

‘Every day our staff are changing people’s lives, relieving suffering and pain, often when nothing else seemed possible.

“The funds raised by the charity help strengthen the vital services we provide to our patients and provide such welcome support for our wonderful staff.”