Foreign Surgeons Come to U.S. to Learn Limb Salvage

The Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology (IGOT) has just completed its fifth annual Summit that brings together surgeons from developing countries to learn limb salvage techniques. This year’s three day event, held at San Francisco’s General Hospital, attracted 50 surgeons from 17 developing countries.

Amber Caldwell, director of development for IGOT, commented in an email, “Our Pre-Course was supported by over 30 residents in training and our Research Symposium had over 40 attendees. The Summit represents the spirit of IGOT’s work and it is humbling to know that this short course has an immediate impact that truly makes a global difference. As Dr. Adetiloye from Nigeria commented at the conclusion of the Summit, ‘I will be more courageous to raise more flaps to achieve better wound care now.’”

Asked about the future of the Summit, Richard Coughlin, M.D. told OTW, “We hope to expand upon this year’s disruptive innovation panel, which was a great success. This is an opportunity for our partners to contribute their needs and questions to develop practical solutions. We hope to see the course go on the road and intend to support further south-south collaboration with our partners in helping them host their own courses, with Dar es Salaam Tanzania being the most likely in 2014.”