title: Medical Missions in the Middle East: An Orthopaedic Surgeon's Experience of a Series of Lower Extremity Cases.
abstract: Orthopaedic trauma accounts for a great deal of disability worldwide. There are many impoverished nations affected by war wherein victims suffer blast injuries associated with mines, missiles, high-powered gunshots, and bombings. One way to address this is through international medical missions sponsored by industrialized nations. It is imperative that practitioners have a basic understanding of the type of injuries that may be encountered in these nations impacted by war and conflict. Therefore, we described a small number of various lower extremity injuries seen by one orthopaedic surgeon during his volunteer medical mission to Jordan. Frequently, these injuries did result in the loss of a limb and/or function as the patients were treated without appropriate instrumentation or facilities in a suboptimal environment. Treatment was frequently delayed, and many of the surgeons involved lacked optimal training. It is our hope that this case series will lead to studies which may give guidance regarding how to best treat these complex injuries with optimal outcomes and minimal complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Seton Hall University, School of Health and Medical Sciences, South Orange, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Todd P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Seton Hall University, School of Health and Medical Sciences, South Orange, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Kimona
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Yasmine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rifai
authors.affiliation: Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Sinai Hospital Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Bartlomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szczech
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Seton Hall University, School of Health and Medical Sciences, South Orange, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Aiman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rifai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000072161:Orthopedic Surgeons; D014857:Warfare; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult