Public-private collaboration helps Strand man walk independently again after advanced limb reconstruction
For Mr Tashinga Skipa, a 46-year-old resident from Strand, the ability to walk without crutches is more than a medical outcome. It is a return to independence, dignity, confidence, and everyday freedom.
After a high-impact motor vehicle collision in 2018, Mr Skipa sustained severe injuries to both legs. Despite multiple attempts to save his limbs, the extent of the injuries and the compromised blood supply meant that both legs had to be amputated above the knee.
Following rehabilitation, he was fitted with conventional prosthetic limbs. However, socket-based prosthetics can be physically demanding, especially for people living with bilateral above-knee amputations. Walking required significant effort, and despite his determination and extensive rehabilitation, Mr Skipa remained dependent on two crutches and assistance with many daily activities.
Today, following a pioneering bilateral osseointegration procedure at Tygerberg Hospital, Mr Skipa is able to walk independently without crutches.
Osseointegration is an advanced surgical technique in which a titanium implant is anchored directly into the femur, allowing the prosthesis to attach directly to the skeleton instead of through a traditional socket system. This can improve balance, reduce the energy needed for walking, and remove the discomfort often associated with socket-based systems.
Reflecting on his journey, Mr Skipa expressed deep appreciation for the public and private healthcare teams involved in his care. He said the procedure has made a significant difference in his daily life and has greatly improved his mobility and independence.
A partnership focused on restoring independence
Mr Skipa was referred from Mediclinic Stellenbosch to Tygerberg Hospital as part of a collaborative limb reconstruction and rehabilitation programme involving Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University, and the Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology in Stellenbosch.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (WCDHW) supports healthcare partnerships that expand access to highly specialised care for selected public sector patients. In this case, collaboration across the public, private, academic, and rehabilitation sectors helped make advanced limb reconstruction available to a patient whose life had been profoundly changed by injury.
The case reflects WCDHW’s commitment to person-centred care, where innovation is not pursued for its own sake but because it can improve a person’s ability to live with greater dignity, independence, and quality of life.
“Partnerships such as this allow us to responsibly expand access to highly specialised procedures within the public health system, while ensuring strong clinical governance and careful patient selection,” said Professor Nando Ferreira, Head of the Limb Reconstruction Unit in the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital.
Building local expertise in advanced limb reconstruction
Osseointegration within the Tygerberg-Stellenbosch platform has developed through several important milestones.
Professor Ferreira previously performed South Africa’s first osseointegration procedure, marking an important step in expanding local expertise and access to care for patients requiring advanced limb reconstruction.
Dr Franz Birkholtz, an orthopaedic limb reconstruction specialist at Mediclinic Winelands Orthopaedic Hospital and the Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology, subsequently established South Africa’s first dedicated osseointegration service, Team Osseo Stellies, also known as the Stellenbosch Osseointegration Centre.
Following international engagements, the programme has developed into a structured, multidisciplinary service with defined clinical pathways and a comprehensive rehabilitation programme designed to support patients before, during, and after surgery.
Through their shared affiliation with Stellenbosch University and with the support of WCDHW, the collaboration has created new opportunities for selected public sector patients to access advanced reconstructive care closer to home.
Complex surgery at Tygerberg Hospital
The bilateral procedure was performed at Tygerberg Hospital by Dr Birkholtz and Professor Ferreira.
Mr Skipa underwent simultaneous implantation of custom-designed, single-unit osseointegrated titanium stems into both femurs. Operating on both limbs in one procedure required careful planning, precise alignment, and close collaboration between the surgical teams.
An international surgical team from Erasmus University Medical Center also provided mentorship support.
“This case demonstrates what can be achieved when expertise is shared across sectors in a structured and responsible manner,” said Dr Birkholtz.
The procedure was completed successfully, and Mr Skipa’s recovery immediately after surgery was uneventful.
Rehabilitation as part of the journey
Following discharge, Mr Skipa entered a structured rehabilitation programme led by Dr Birkholtz and the multidisciplinary Team Osseo Stellies at the Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology.
The programme includes progressive loading, advanced gait training, and functional conditioning delivered by a coordinated team of rehabilitation professionals. The focus extends beyond surgery itself, supporting patients to regain confidence, mobility, independence, and the ability to participate more fully in everyday life.
“Access to a structured rehabilitation pathway is essential to achieving good outcomes in these complex cases,” Dr Birkholtz added.
Care that changes daily life
For Mr Skipa, the outcome is visible in the everyday moments that matter most. He can now walk independently without crutches, with improved balance and less physical effort.
For someone living with bilateral above-knee amputations, this represents a significant improvement in independence, mobility, dignity, and overall quality of life.
WCDHW recognises the teams at Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Mediclinic Stellenbosch, the Institute of Orthopaedics and Rheumatology, Team Osseo Stellies, and Erasmus University Medical Center for their role in this collaborative achievement.
This work demonstrates how carefully governed partnerships can strengthen specialised healthcare services in the Western Cape, while keeping the focus where it belongs: on improving the lived experience, wellbeing, and long-term outcomes of patients.