Overcoming Barriers to Hand Surgical Care in Low-Resource Settings.

Abstract

There is a growing need for surgical treatment of hand injuries in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This rise in disease burden places more pressure on these health care systems that are already struggling to provide access to surgical care for their patients. Hand surgery outreach initiatives have increased in recent years and provide much needed care and relief to these countries. There are significant patient-, physician-, institution-, and infrastructure-related barriers associated with developing an outreach initiative. Understanding these barriers is essential in establishing a successful and meaningful outreach initiative.