Orthopaedic Trauma Care Specialist Program for Developing Countries.

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Surgical Education
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Haiti faces significant challenges in managing traumatic musculoskeletal injuries, exacerbated by pre- and post-earthquake conditions.
• A critical human resource gap exists in specialized surgical care for orthopaedic trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a sustainable Orthopaedic Trauma Care Specialist (OTCS) residency program tailored for Haiti.
• To address the deficit in healthcare professionals skilled in managing musculoskeletal trauma.

Main Methods:

• A 2-year residency program focused on orthopaedic trauma management.
• Development of a curriculum aligned with Haiti's specific injury patterns and healthcare system capabilities.
• Implementation of a "train-the-trainers" strategy for long-term faculty development and program sustainability.

Main Results:

• The proposed OTCS program offers a comprehensive strategy for improving orthopaedic trauma care.
• The program emphasizes affordable and sustainable solutions within the existing healthcare infrastructure.
• The framework is designed for adaptability to other low- and middle-income countries.

Conclusions:

• The OTCS residency program provides a viable model for enhancing surgical capacity in resource-limited settings.
• Sustainable, locally-driven training is key to improving trauma and fracture care globally.
• This initiative can significantly impact patient outcomes for musculoskeletal injuries in underserved regions.