US Sanctions and Their Consequences on Orthopedic Procedures in Iran

Abstract

Background: Sanctions have always been an obstacle for development, even in health and medical topics, since they aim to reduce a country’s financial and economic power, and their impacts on medical and health systems in the objected country are inevitable. In this report, we are going to show the effect of sanctions on orthopedic surgeries in Iran. Methods: In this study, we surveyed the opinion of 32 orthopedic surgeons about the effect of sanctions on orthopedic procedures. We evaluated surgeries routinely done in our referral centers in terms of the need for equipment and facilities. Results: In upper limb surgeries, the high cost of equipment has more frequency between answers although, in lower limb surgeries, the changing method due to lack of facilities with worse results than the standard method has more frequency between answers. Both results indicate that sanctions made the feasibility of orthopedic surgeries more difficult. Conclusion: We believe that several actions are needed to take place in the current situation by the international organizations to stop this unreasonable and illogical sanction, to prevent its devastating results.

Keywords

• Health Services
• Orthopedic Procedures
• Sanctions