Hand Surgery in Lebanon 2024: Excellence Despite Existing Gaps.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Plastic Surgery
• Surgical Specialties

Background:

• Lebanon has historically provided advanced hand surgery services in the Middle East.
• Hand surgery is not yet recognized as an independent medical specialty in Lebanon.
• This lack of recognition impacts the quality and accessibility of hand care services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current landscape of hand surgery in Lebanon in 2024.
• To assess the availability and distribution of hand surgeons in the country.
• To identify challenges and propose strategies for improving hand care services.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from the Lebanese Order of Physicians, Lebanese Society of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, and Lebanese Orthopaedic Society.
• Surgeon data included work settings and subspecialty focus.
• Global hand surgeon data obtained through direct contact and published records.

Main Results:

• Lebanon has a ratio of 3.28 basic hand surgeons per 100,000 people.
• The ratio of specialized hand surgeons is only 0.1 per 100,000 people, significantly below the recommended 0.8.
• Other countries show varying supply levels, with some also experiencing shortages.

Conclusions:

• A significant shortage of specialized hand surgeons exists in Lebanon.
• Lack of official recognition for hand surgery as a distinct specialty exacerbates the issue.
• Strategic interventions are necessary to address the deficit and enhance existing expertise.