title: Surgical practice in a maximum security prison - unique and perplexing problems.
abstract: The practice of general surgery in a prison population differs considerably from that in a general surgical practice. We audited surgical consultations at the Mangaung Correctional Centre from December 2003 to April 2009. We found a high incidence of foreign object ingestion and anal pathology. Understanding the medical and social aspects of prison life facilitates the treatment of inmates with surgical problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of surgery, University Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. gnchsjas.md@mail.uovs.ac.za
authors.forename: Samuel J A
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kleinhans
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons; D011859:Radiography; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012637:Security Measures; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D041742:Upper Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000601:surgery