Treating Pediatric Hand Problems in a Low-resource Environment

Although individual pediatric hand problems are rare, the combined burden of congenital anomalies, neuromuscular disease, and trauma is considerable in low-resource environments where treatment is unavailable. Surgeons from high-income countries respond to the need for care with short-term trips to low-resource environments to operate and teach local surgeons. Hand problems are amenable to this model, because they may be disabling and treatable with low-risk, low-resource surgery. Pediatric hand problems are especially compelling, because growth may adversely affect outcomes, and resulting disability is lifelong. This article addresses considerations for treating children's hands in low-resource environments, and approaches to specific conditions.