title: [Nomadic plastic surgery: 1 NGO, 10 years, 30 missions].
abstract: This publication presents the results of 10 years of nomadic plastic surgery missions by a small French non-governmental organization: Interplast-France/surgery without borders (www.Interplast-France.net). This NGO is specialized in reconstructive surgery in challenging conditions and works in developing countries. We present a view of 10 years of missions carried out between 2003 and 2013. This experience covers a uniform period both by the objectives proposed and the regularity of missions observed. This work shows the way surgical missions take place and the methodology used. We carried out 30 missions. We made more than 4000 consultations and we operated 1500 patients. Interventions are divided into one quarter cleft, one quarter tumors, one quarter burn injuries and one quarter of various diseases such as noma and Buruli ulcer. We show some adaptations such as autonomy during missions, the adjustment guidance in relation to this new environment and the integration of local traditions in our therapeutic action. We offer practical notions on the surgical procedures and some reflections on the societal level. This work aims primarily to pay tribute to all the invisible actors in this long chain of humanity, and thanks to the simple intervention of men, a patient can have the same medical treatment whether he is in an industrial country or in some isolated place on this earth.
authors.affiliation: 16, boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg, 75007 Paris, France. Electronic address: contact@knipper.fr.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knipper
authors.affiliation: Clinique Pasteur, 222, route de Rochefort, 17200 Royan, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antoine
authors.affiliation: 281, rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carré
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique, CHU hôpitaux de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baudet
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008493:Medical Missions / Q000458:organization & administration; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Chirurgie humanitaire; Chirurgie nomade; Ethno-chirurgie; Ethno-surgery; Humanitarian surgery; Nomadic surgery