Managing Severe Foot and Ankle Deformities in Global Humanitarian Programs.

Abstract

The severe foot and ankle deformities the authors' organization has encountered in humanitarian programs worldwide are more complicated than those surgeons treat in daily practice in developed countries. Severity of deformity, patients' economic limitations, patients' expectations and realistic needs in life, availability of surgical instrumentation, the local team's understanding of foot and ankle surgery and their ability to do consultation for patients postoperatively, and compliance of patients all account for success of the surgery. Regardless of the effort surgeons make, complications and recurrence occur. Educating and training local surgeons to take over medical care are the most important goals of the programs.