Transforming Lives Through Surgery:
Dr. Desai's Surgical Outreach visit to Ghana
A journey of teaching, collaboration, and life-changing surgeries in Kumasi, Ghana.
Please note: This page contains graphic images of surgical procedures that highlight the impactful work performed during the mission.
In September 2023, I had the profound honor of spending two weeks at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, an experience that deeply impacted both my professional journey and personal growth. Accompanied by Dr. Brad Hyatt, a former fellow from our program, we immersed ourselves in a collaborative environment with the hospital's passionate and skilled team of plastic and orthopedic surgery residents, including the dedicated Drs. Seidu and Emile Tano. Throughout our time there, we worked hand in hand with these bright, driven individuals, sharing knowledge and engaging in lively discussions that enriched our understanding of upper extremity trauma care in that part of the world. Every morning, we started with lectures, where we focused on imparting practical techniques specifically designed for resource-constrained environments, ensuring that the tools and approaches we recommended could be adapted to the local realities.
Teaching, Learning, and Healing in Kumasi
One of the most impactful approaches we used was the WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet) technique, which allowed patients to stay awake and cooperative during surgery. This method proved especially effective in the challenging setting. Throughout our time, we performed a wide variety of surgeries, including upper extremity trauma surgery, Burn reconstruction, oncologic resection procedures. The pediatric burn cases, in particular, highlighted the critical needs in the region.
What left a lasting impression on me was the extraordinary resilience and ingenuity of the local staff. In the face of ongoing shortages of surgical instruments, supplies, and medications, they demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness in overcoming these challenges. Whether through creatively repurposing equipment or adapting surgical techniques to fit the circumstances, the staff consistently found ways to ensure patients received the best possible care. Their ability to deliver exceptional results, even with limited resources, truly underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and adaptability in the medical field, reminding me of the profound impact these qualities have on patient outcomes.
Working in a resource-limited environment, we quickly realized the significant challenges posed by a shortage of surgical tools, supplies, and medications. However, this scarcity also brought out the extraordinary creativity and commitment of the local team.
The hospital staff displayed remarkable ingenuity, often finding innovative ways to extend the life of their instruments and adapt their techniques to work with limited resources. For example, when surgical tools were in short supply, they improvised methods to sterilize and repurpose equipment. These clever solutions were crucial in continuing to provide quality care despite the constraints.
What stood out the most was the unwavering dedication of the staff to their patients, and the unending enthusiasm of the medical students and residents to learn. Even without advanced technologies, they relied on their clinical expertise and hands-on experience to make informed decisions. Their deep passion for patient care and their drive to deliver the best possible outcomes, despite overwhelming challenges, was truly inspiring. I felt Dr Sterling Bunnel's words echoing in my head: "To those who have nothing, a little is a lot”.
This experience reinforced the importance of adaptability, teamwork, and never losing sight of the patient’s well-being—values that are central to our Fellowship program at The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio.
Overcoming Obstacles with Ingenuity
Some of the cases we worked on
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HEALING AFTER SEVERE BURN INJURIES
This young boy sustained severe burns to his right hand. Following several debridements we were able to salvage most of his hand, unfortunately, however, we were not able to save his fingers. The staff there continue to support his healing journey to ensure the best possible outcome for his recovery.
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A Second Chance After a Critical Burn Surgery
A brave young girl faced a life-threatening anesthesia emergency during surgery for burn contractures. Thanks to quick, skilled action by our team, she was resuscitated successfully. The next day, she was recovering safely in her mother’s arms, and her healing process was well underway.
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RESTORING FUNCTION WITH PRECISE RECONSTRUCTION
This young man was assaulted with a sharp object resulting in an inability to extend his fingers. He had sustained significant extensor tendon trauma. Using the WALANT technique we were able to restore full finger extension.
As we reflect on our mission to Kumasi, Ghana, and the incredible work we accomplished together, we invite you to help sustain this life-changing work. Your donation to the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (AFSH) ensures that more surgeons can be trained, more lives can be touched, and more hands can be healed in underserved regions.
Supporting Future Surgical Outreach visits:
To continue this important work, I encourage you to consider supporting the following organizations:
Join Us in Making a Difference
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Drs. Seidu, David, and Tano at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for their collaboration and dedication throughout our Surgical Outreach visit to Ghana. Their support, expertise, and shared commitment to improving patient outcomes were invaluable. It was an honor to work alongside such skilled and passionate surgeons.
A special thank you to the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand (AFSH), the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), and Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) for facilitating this mission and providing the resources necessary for its success. Their continuous support allows surgeons like myself to make a meaningful impact in underserved regions, helping to bring essential surgical care to those in need.
Gratitude and Collaboration
DR. DESAI: DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE IN SURGERY AND GLOBAL HEALTH
Dr. Desai is a fellowship-trained Plastic surgeon specializing in hand, upper extremity, peripheral nerve, and reconstructive surgery at the Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio. In addition to his clinical expertise, he is passionate about advancing healthcare globally.
