Surgical Management and Reconstruction Training (SMART) Course for International Orthopedic Surgeons

Hao-Hua Wu; Kushal R. Patel; Amber M. Caldwell; R. Richard Coughlin; Scott L. Hansen; Joseph N. Carey

doi:10.1016/j.aogh.2016.06.002

Annals of Global Health (Dec 2016)

Surgical Management and Reconstruction Training (SMART) Course for International Orthopedic Surgeons

Hao-Hua Wu,
Kushal R. Patel,
Amber M. Caldwell,
R. Richard Coughlin,
Scott L. Hansen,
Joseph N. Carey

Affiliations

Hao-Hua Wu: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco; Orthopaedic Trauma Institute; Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology, San Francisco, California
Kushal R. Patel: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Amber M. Caldwell: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco; Orthopaedic Trauma Institute; Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology, San Francisco, California
R. Richard Coughlin: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco; Orthopaedic Trauma Institute; Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology, San Francisco, California
Scott L. Hansen: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Joseph N. Carey: Plastic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aogh.2016.06.002
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 82, no. 4
pp. 652 – 658

Abstract

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BackgroundThe burden of complex orthopedic trauma in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is exacerbated by soft-tissue injuries, which can often lead to amputations. This study's purpose was to create and evaluate the Surgical Management and Reconstruction Training (SMART) course to help orthopedic surgeons from LMICs manage soft-tissue defects and reduce the rate of amputations.MethodsIn this prospective observational study, orthopedic surgeons from LMICs were recruited to attend a 2-day SMART course taught by plastic surgery faculty in San Francisco. Before the course, participants were asked to assess the burden of soft-tissue injury and amputation encountered at their respective sites of practice. A survey was then given immediately and 1-year postcourse to evaluate the quality of instructional materials and the course's effect in reducing the burden of amputation, respectively.ResultsFifty-one practicing orthopedic surgeons from 25 countries attended the course. No participant reported previously attempting a flap reconstruction procedure to treat a soft-tissue defect. Before the course, participants cumulatively reported 580-970 amputations performed annually as a result of soft-tissue defects. Immediately after the course, participants rated the quality and effectiveness of training materials to be a mean of ≥4.4 on a Likert scale of 5 (Excellent) in all 14 instructional criteria. Of the 34 (66.7%) orthopedic surgeons who completed the 1-year postcourse survey, 34 (100%, 'P' ConclusionThe SMART Course can give orthopedic surgeons in LMICs the skills and knowledge to successfully perform flaps, reducing the self-reported incidence of amputations. Course participants were able to disseminate flap reconstructive techniques to colleagues at their home institution. While this course offers a collaborative, sustainable approach to reduce global surgical disparities in amputation, future investigation into the viability of teaching the SMART course in LMICs is warranted.

Published in Annals of Global Health

ISSN: 2214-9996 (Online)
Publisher: Ubiquity Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases; Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.annalsofglobalhealth.org/

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