Cristian was working at his job as a chrome-polishing and detail technician when an air compressor exploded. Cristian’s clothing caught fire, and he was thrown back approximately 15 feet. Seven other people were injured in the accident.
When Paradigm took on Cristian’s case, he was in the ICU, intubated and not allowed to move. He had deep-dermal/full-thickness burns to 89% of his body, as well as bilateral corneal abrasions.
Led by Paradigm Medical Director, Ann Vasile, MD, and Paradigm Network Manager, Brook Feerick, our team worked closely with Cristian, his family, and his treating providers on his very challenging case. Because our team intervened early to optimize his recovery, Cristian was able to avoid complications that could have limited his long-term function. For example, Cristian had so little of his own skin left after the accident, the doctors had to take small samples of his skin and grow new skin in the lab to place over his burns. Because this lab-grown skin is very fragile, Cristian’s mobility was limited so the skin wouldn’t tear. This led to problems with his joints, especially his hands and feet, so we got him the physical therapy he needed to maintain and improve function.
A highlight in Cristian’s road to recovery was when we scheduled him with a hair loss specialist who was able to do a hair transplant so he could grow eyebrows again. It took a long time to find the right doctor, but the procedure worked and Cristian was thrilled, saying it made him feel “normal.”
Though Cristian always had an optimistic outlook regarding the hard work of recovery, the stress did cause relationship troubles with his wife. We found him a psychologist who helped him work through the many challenges of such a life-changing accident.
We’re proud that over the three-and-a-half years we worked with Cristian, we were able to help him achieve a remarkable recovery. He’s able to live with full independence: He drives, cares for his kids, and maintains an active lifestyle. He is a true success story.
To learn more about how Paradigm can help improve the lives of injured workers, call (800) 676-6777 or email: catastrophic@paradigmcorp.com.
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