FINAL TRIP REPORT: Team Sinai Haiti - Co-sponsored by Save-A-Limb Fund and Operation Rainbow
We had a very successful mission this past April 29-May 6,
2012. Our local host, Dr. Francel Alexis was there every day, and his efforts
made the entire week flow more smoothly. It was fun with Francel to compare notes, operate together, exchanging ideas, and see many of our follow-up patients from last year.
 |
| Tamysen Regan demonstrating the SteriPen |
On our arrival at HAH, we were told by the expatriate
assistant administrators that the hospital tap water was being purified and
chlorinated, and therefore potable. We proceeded to drink without fear, though
two of our nurses were more prescient: Gay Ann Gatapan, and Tamysen Regan, both sterilized the tap
water with REI Steri-pens. The Steri-pen is an inexpensive, pocket sized ultraviolet light generator that is capable of sterilizing a liter of water in
90 seconds. Needless to say, we all fell sick to Giardia, sooner or later,
except for our clever Steri-pen equipped nurses GayAnn and Tamysen. We adapted,
put our two hardest hit team members on IV’s and bed rest (Geo and Dirk), and
the less hard hit made it through with oral rehydration. For the rest of the week we switched to
bottled water, and were able to keep our team going full steam.
 |
| Brad Whyte, CRNA checks a patient pre-op |
Our 16 team members included 2 Canadians, 1 Israeli, 1
Domincana, and 12 Americans. The surgeons were John Herzenberg, MD (Team Leader),
Ron Delanois, MD, Dirk (The Harder they Are, the Bigger They Fall) Leu, MD,
Marie Gdalevitch, MD, and Job Timeny, DPM. The Anesthesia team included Steve Mulder, MD, Warren McKay,
MD, and the irrepressible Bradley Whyte, CRNA.
Nursing boasted Merrill Chaus Herzenberg, MD, Gay Ann
Gatapan, RN, Nadine Henry, RN,
Efrat Gavriely, RN, and the incomparable Lucia Hernandez, RN. Lucia was a
surprise addition, arranged surreptitiously by Scott Nelson unbeknownst to us.
Without Lucia, we may not have made it through the schedule. Our Surgical Technicians include
Tamysen Regan, ST, Geovanni Orlando, ST and
 |
| Team Sinai Haiti Operation Rainbow on the steps of Adventiste |
Meghan Rupert, ST.
 |
| Marie G. and Francel Alexis |
On the last day of the mission, many team members visited a
local orphanage, delivering, in true St. Nicholas fashion, goodies, and good
cheer. We made it through the week without any significant complications, save
for our own team members who fell ill to water borne contagions. Throughout the
past year, we have been in contact with Dr. Francel Alexis, who is providing
expert follow-up care for the children and adults that we operated on.
The total number of cases that we operated was 38 (28 children and 10 adults)
8/38 cases were bilateral, one child accounted for 4 of the
procedures (multiple wound debridements/VAC changes)
The case breakdown by category included the following:
Peds Foot/Leg 21
Peds Ilizarov 6
Arthroscopy/Knee 3
Adult Trauma 8
 |
| Dr. Delanois removing TSF/Ilizarov |
Detailed Case
Listing:
4/30/12
1. ORIF
Left Hip Subtrochanteric Hip Fracture
2. Remove
TSF
3. Bilateral
Core Decompression for AVN hips
4. Remove
external fixator from right Hip and Femur
5. Bilateral
Clubfoot release for Arthrogryposis
6. Femur
and Tibia osteotomy for Rickets, Application of TSF, Orthofix to Femur, Tibia,
Foot.
7. I&D
Infected Distal Femur/Knee; Wound VAC
5/1/12
1. Iliac
Crest Bone Graft for Nonunion Distal Femur Left (EARTHQUAKE)
2. Bilateral
Tibia-Fibula Osteotomies for Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Genu Valgum
3. Peroneal
Nerve decompression, Achilles Lengthening, Application of TSF to Foot and Ankle
(EARTHQUAKE)
4. Labrinudi
Triple Arthrodesis for Neglected Clubfoot
5. Tendo
Achilles, Flexor Tendon Lengthening, Completion of Epiphyseodesis Distal Tibia
and Fibula, Right (EARTHQUAKE)
5/2/12
1. I&D
Infected Distal Femur/Knee; Wound VAC
2. Remove
8 plates
3. Epiphyseodesis
Left Femur and Tibia
4. Lambrinudi
Triple Arthrodesis for Neglected Clubfoot
5. Adjust
TSF, add toe wires
7. Arthroscopy Right Knee
6. Adjust
TSF, Remove infected wire
 |
| Hypophosphatemic Rickets |
 |
| Orthofix Femur + TSF Tibia |
8. Osteotomy Right Femur, Apply Ilizarov
Right Femur and Tibia (EARTHQUAKE)
9. Bilateral
knee disarticulations for Tibial Hemimelia
Medial/Lateral
Hamstrings, TAL, Triple.
5/3/12
1. Left Lambrinudi Triple for Neglected Clubfoot
2. Bilateral tibial/femoral 8-plates for Blounts
3. Left Clubfoot Release with Anterior Tibialis Transfer
4. Achilles Lengthening and Claw Toe reconstructions (EARTHQUAKE)
5. Wound debridement, VAC, Left Tibia Injury
6. Right Femur Lengthening with External Fixator (Orthofix) for
Congenital Femoral Deficiency
7. Bilateral Hip Core Decompressions
5/4/12
1. Left
ACL reconstruction
2. I&D
Infected Distal Femur/Knee; Wound VAC
3. Left
naviculectomy and calcaneocuboid fusion (recurrent clubfoot)
4. Right
Lambinudi Triple Arthrodesis (Recurrent Clubfoot)
5. Right
Gastrocnemius Lengthening and Hamstring Lengthening for CP
6. Remove
Bilateral TSF from Feet/Tibia, apply Casts
7. Ilizarov
Right Femur Osteotomy (EARTHQUAKE)
8. Claw
Toe repair after compartment syndrome (EARHTQUAKE)
9. Bilateral
Knee Flexion (Artrhogryposis) Capsulotomies, extension/shortening Femoral
Osteotomies
1. Blounts-
Bilateral Tibial Osteotomies and Bilateral Distal Femoral 8 plates
5/6/12
1. I&D
Infected Distal Femur/Knee; Wound VAC, Application of Spanning External Fixator
Right Femur/Tibia
 |
| Dirk and the Orphans |
During the last day of our visit, many team members visited a local orphanage, bringing goodies and good cheer. Dirk Leu was a big hit with the kids.
All in all, we had a most successful and enjoyable mission, despite the initial outbreak of water borne gastrointestinal illnesses. Team Sinai is looking forward to riding again in March 2013!
Much thanks to all the donors who helped supply us with equipment, tourniquets (Hemaclear, OKH Medical), cast material, drapes and all the other myriad of gear necessary to make such a mission come together!
 |
| Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down! |
No comments:
Post a Comment