Abstract

Nepal is a nation with an emerging economy that traditionally has faced challenges related to terrain, weather, political instability, natural disasters and poverty. It has a high rate of burn injury. Due to the above factors, adequate primary treatment of burns is frequently rudimentary, resulting in a significant burden of human suffering in the form of chronic debilitating burn-scar contractures. For several decades, international health teams have played a significant role in relieving the burden of disease and deformity, such as cleft lip and palate and burn-scar reconstruction. The current article summarises the experience of an Australian surgical team assembled to manage problems of burn-scar contracture in Nepal over the ten year period 2004-2014. The article discusses patient assessment protocola, patient statistics, conditions treated, procedures and results, complications.

Highlights

  • Australasian plastic surgery has a history of involvement with international pro bono surgical programs to assist developing nations in the management of congenital and acquired conditions

  • Nepal is a nation with an emerging economy that traditionally has faced challenges related to terrain, weather, political instability, natural disasters and poverty

  • The current article summarises the experience of an Australian surgical team assembled to manage problems of burn-scar contracture in Nepal over the ten year period 20042014

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Summary

Introduction

Australasian plastic surgery has a history of involvement with international pro bono surgical programs to assist developing nations in the management of congenital and acquired conditions. Aware that a short stay surgery centre was not appropriate for these patients, Sharpe negotiated with the nearby Scheer Memorial Hospital (SMH) to set up a burn-scar contracture program, which the author was invited to run. In April 2004 simultaneous cleft lip and palate and burn-scar contracture programs were run by a combined team at the ADRA Nepal building and the nearby SMH. Each time a dedicated team of nurses from all over Australia assists the staff of SMH in caring for our patients For most of this period the program was coordinated by the former nurse unit manager of plastic surgery at the Sydney Adventist Hospital, John Sanburg. Release and FTSG left 5th toe Release major neck contracture and lat. dorsi perforator island flap

Procedures utilised with results
Discussion
Conclusion

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