Building the Capacity to Manage Orthopaedic Trauma After a Catastrophe in a Low-Income Country

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Disaster medicine
• Global health

Background:

• Providing trauma care in austere environments, especially after natural disasters, presents significant challenges.
• These challenges are amplified in developing countries, exposing deficiencies in orthopaedic trauma management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the development of an orthopaedic trauma care program immediately following a natural disaster.
• To present a model for building capacity and empowering health professionals in developing nations for sustainable orthopaedic trauma care.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the example of Haiti and a specific Non-Governmental Organization.
• Described a capacity-building framework to assess strengths and weaknesses in low-to-middle-income countries.

Main Results:

• Highlighted the complexities of implementing and sustaining orthopaedic trauma care post-disaster.
• Identified key considerations for program development and long-term resilience.

Conclusions:

• A sustainable capacity-building model is essential for advancing orthopaedic trauma care in resource-limited settings.
• Empowering local healthcare professionals is key to improving patient outcomes in disaster-affected regions.