Nigeria’s trauma burden calls for coordinated care — Orthopaedic surgeons

By Chioma Obinna Experts in orthopaedic and trauma care have called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s approach to treating patients with traumatic and musculoskeletal injuries, warning that successful surgery alone does not necessarily translate into recovery or restoration of normal life. They said effective trauma care requires a multidisciplinary, patient-centred approach in which surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, psychologists, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals work together from diagnosis through treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration into society. The experts spoke at the 47th Annual Scientific Conference of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, NOHIL, with the theme, “Multidisciplinary Team Care in the Management of Musculoskeletal Diseases,” and sub-theme, “Burn Injuries.” Representing the Medical Director of NOHIL, Dr Wakil O.

Lawal, at the opening of the conference, the Head of Clinical Services, Dr F.C. Nwachukwu, said the era when one doctor could independently manage an injury from beginning to end had changed. He said: “Back in the days, it was largely a one-man affair, where one individual would manage injuries from beginning to end.

But over the years, things have changed. Today, there is no single individual that can manage complex injuries alone. Even for simple injuries, outcomes are much better when you have a team of individuals caring for the patient.” Speaking on the need to move beyond the traditional approach to trauma management, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Chief Executive Officer of Redeemer’s Health Village, Dr Adedamola Dada, said the ultimate measure of successful treatment should not be limited to whether an operation was technically successful.

Using the example of a young man involved in a road traffic accident who sustained multiple fractures, Dada explained that a surgeon could successfully fix the fractures and obtain good X-rays, yet the patient might still be unable to return to work or support his family. He said, “Technically successful treatment does not always mean recovery. A technically united fracture does not mean that the patient has fully recovered.

The union of the bones is not the same thing as restoration of life. What multidisciplinary care targets is actually the restoration of life.” According to him, the tra…