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SICOT e-Newsletter

Issue No. 51 - December 2012

Fellowship News

SICOT/Assiut University Training Fellowship Report

Clement Inyang
Full Member - Uyo, Nigeria

I am always eager to learn and was definitely excited when I learnt of my SICOT/Assiut University Training Fellowship.

I arrived on 10 September 2011 upon my return from the SICOT Triennial World Congress in Prague, Czech Republic, and made my way to Assiut and specifically to Assiut University Hospital, Trauma Unit.

"Welcome" they said, as I was received by the Assistant Lecture and Residents at the Trauma Unit. This was most reassuring and I was immediately introduced to other workers which made my integration early and quick.

Assiut University Hospital is mainly housed in a 9-storey intimidating edifice. No doubt, the Department of Orthopaedics has enough space to flourish in terms of human and material resources. With two dedicated theatre suites each, for Microsurgery and Arthroscopy and about five suites each for Trauma and Orthopaedics, about 50 operations could be going on daily in the department.

Trauma: I took part in fixation of pelvic fractures (open and percutaneous fixation), reduction and stabilization of spine fractures, complex head and neck fractures of the femur, difficult SNHumerus fractures, intraarticular distal humeral fractures. I also dealt with forearm and wrist fractures, ankle fractures, foot fractures and paediatric fractures.

I had a special interest in difficult fractures, non-unions and old fractures. There was a great number of spine cases which I benefited from. I was involved in a variety of spine surgeries and I am therefore eager to go back to ensure the commencement of spine surgeries in my hospital.

I also learned more about the management of various general orthopaedic cases including modified Dunn’s operation, surgical dislocation and trap-door, and various osteotomies for a variety of deformities. I also increased my knowledge of the use of the Ilizarov frame.

My knowledge of paediatric orthopaedics was given a special touch, particularly the "Ponsetti technique" in the management of clubfoot and the surgical management of DDH and Perthes’ disease. I have gained experience in open reduction of DDH including pelvic and femoral osteotomy for this ailment. Of course, I also learnt the basics of knee arthroscopy.

It is difficult to put down all the cases I participated in at Assiut but, more importantly, in my opinion, is the high number of cases seen and the readiness of every staff member (from the professors to the cleaners) to share.

The other avenue to learn was lectures. I took part in the hip, foot and ankle courses during my stay. Also, every case is discussed, pre- and post-operatively, in a conference which I benefited a great deal from.

I attended the Egyptian Orthopaedic Association's Annual Meeting and the Egyptian Arthroscopy Association Conference where I had the opportunity to interact with orthopaedic surgeons in other institutions in Egypt and other countries. I gained a lot from the rich presentations at these conferences.

My departure came with mixed feelings. Leaving was difficult, as I had made a lot of friends and learnt some Arabic, but family and the eagerness to go back and improve services in my institution based on everything I had learned, were a great incentive.

Egypt is a beautiful country; Egyptians are lovely and welcoming people, and the Department of Orthopaedics is a family. I was part of this family for the 6 months of my fellowship and I will continue to be part of this family. I am most grateful to SICOT, Assiut University and Assiut University Hospital. I am indebted to Prof Galal Zaki Said, and all other Professors, Assistant Professors, Lecturers, Assistant Lecturers, Residents and all staff members of the department for making my stay so eventful. I must mention the special contributions of Dr Hatem Galal Said, Dr Omar Refai, Dr Nariman, Dr Mohammed Kamal, Dr Mohammed Morsy, Dr Mohammed Khaled, Dr Morsy Mohammed, Dr Mahmud Badran, Dr Ahmad Shawky, Dr Mohammed Mousa and Dr Morshen, who always looked out for me.

I appreciate you all.

Suggestions:

  1. Fellows could be given information on how to travel from Cairo to Assiut.
  2. More communication in English is needed during conferences and in fact fellows should be helped and provided with a lot more information in English regarding everything going on during operations and conferences.
  3. More fellows can be given opportunities to train at centres where one fellow has already been trained to boost output.
  4. SICOT to relax age limitations on fellows from Africa considering the need for well trained hands in most countries in this environment.
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