"My model had become obsolete in the eyes of the medical world": in Roquefort-les-Pins, Olivier Guglielmo's tough fight to change his prosthesis

Two metal rods firmly anchored in the femur and the tibia, onto which a myriad of polypropylene parts fit at the knee. "It's this prosthesis that allows me to have a more or less normal life," says Olivier Guglielmo, pointing to his leg supported by an orthosis.

Victim of a serious road accident in 1986, the Roquefortois, now 55 years old, was able to benefit from a total prosthesis at the Saint-Étienne University Hospital. "Dr. Bousquet saved my life," he repeats gratefully. The only constraint: Olivier would have to have the mechanism replaced three to four times during his life. An operation he underwent without difficulty in 1995, in the same establishment. But during the second operation, things became complicated. The French company Serf, which manufactured the prostheses, was bought by the American Stryker, which decided to stop production of the parts. "In the meantime, technologies had evolved ," recalls the fifty-year-old. My model had become obsolete in the eyes of the medical world and, from what I understand, no longer profitable enough." In October 2023, for lack of anything better after an operation that had already been postponed, he nevertheless went under the knife: "The replacement of the prosthesis in Nice by surgeon Trojani, who is closely monitoring my case, could only be partial."

"I'm on borrowed time."

Weakened by a post-operative bacterial infection that has still not healed, Olivier knows that the prosthesis – already weakened – will not hold without its total replacement. Otherwise, he risks amputation. "It's an unthinkable and unacceptable option," says the father with contained calm, who says he is well supported by those around him despite a difficult physical and psychological situation. On sick leave, Olivier's daily life revolves almost entirely around this prosthesis: "I'm on borrowed time until September, when Stryker should create a few more prostheses. Even if I try to remain optimistic, it's very hard for me to wait in uncertainty. I don't feel valued, even denigrated."

The beginning of a collective?

Far from being alone in this distressing situation, the Roquefort resident is inspired by the battles led by other patients in France. Like that of Fabrice Robin, a Vendéen who, according to 20 Minutes , finally won his case after a year and a half of fighting against the American giant. A victory which remains exceptional, however, the company ensuring in a press release that it collaborates with surgeons on a case-by-case basis and only at their request. "I must admit I was more resigned than Fabrice, at least at the beginning," confides Olivier, who has since tried to contact Antibes MP Éric Pauget and claims to have received support from the mayor of Roquefort-les-Pins, Michel Rossi.

With hope restored, he plans to create an association "to bring together affected patients and make our voices heard." Olivier knows: he's also fighting for the future. "If I live to a certain age, I'll have to change my prosthesis again. And what if that's no longer possible?"