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Free flap reconstruction surgery

By Luke Kung’u and Steven Arwa

Kenyatta National Hospital Plastic Surgery Unit and Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery UoN, held a microsurgical workshop at KNH that encompassed live surgeries in KNH, simulation in Chiromo Campus as well as online lectures by both local and international speakers from 24th-28th April 2023.

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The workshop transferred skills with experts from San Giuseppe Hospital, Milan, Italy providing free training on microsurgical skills and acting as linkage to global as well as regional faculty that facilitated successful international symposium in microsurgery.

Screening for beneficiaries was done through outpatient clinics, plastic surgery and orthoplastic wards and the patients benefited from free flap reconstruction of defects and were covered by NHIF. A total of five live surgeries were carried out and attracted a total of forty five participants. KNH Plastic Surgery Unit attends to approximately fifty patients per year.

The workshop was graced by Dr Luigi Troisi MD, PhD, FEBOPRAS, FACS from San Giuseppe Hospital, Dr. Ferdinand W. Nangole MMed (Plastic Surgery), PhD, FEBOPRAS from University of Nairobi, Mr. Juan Berner MD, MSc, FRCS (Plast), FEBOPRAS from Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital and Dr. Joseph Kimani Wanjeri MMed (Surg), MPH(UoN), IPTM (Tel Aviv) from University of Nairobi.

The topics covered ranged from:

1. Lower Limb Reconstruction which covered areas such as: approach and timing for treating open fractures, tips and tricks in lower limb reconstruction, managing complications in lower limb reconstruction and surgical management of the diabetic foot

2. Upper Limb Reconstruction which covered areas such as: approach and timing for upper extremity reconstruction, the spare-parts concept in limb reconstruction, how to avoid and manage complications in microsurgical hand reconstruction and strategies in upper limb replantation.

3. Breast Reconstruction which covered areas such as: alternatives and timing for autologous breast reconstruction, tips and tricks for microsurgical breast reconstruction, managing complications in breast surgery and optimizing results.

The participants also enjoyed lectures on: microsurgery:10-year experience with loupe magnification, lessons learned in microsurgical head and neck reconstruction, microsurgery simulation workshop in chicken model, the impact of international collaboration in microsurgical training and the evolution of plastic surgery in Kenya.

The international speakers were drawn from Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom, Chile, Korea, United Arab Emirates, India, Taiwan and United States of America.

Medical experts from San Giuseppe Hospital, Milan, Italy providing free training on microsurgical at KNH plastic surgery ward

PHOTO | STEVE ARWA

MAIN PHOTO | STEVE ARWA KNH Plastic Surgery Unit and Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery UoN staff, together with experts from San Giuseppe Hospital, Milan during a live surgery at KNH

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