Linda has posted about Daniel-
This 7 yr old boy had a severe lower leg infection treated with debridement which left along segment of exposed tibia. I was able to cover it with a Soleus flap- my first- and now am ready to skin graft. Was prepped and draped yesterday in the OR and then the dermatome quit before we started! We had done a graft the week before but this machine has seen some miles.
Welcome to Africa! I asked what to do- shrugs all around- I've got it at home now; going to the shop here to take it apart. No one gets too upset here about stuff like this- it doesn't help! I've noticed how incredibly resourceful they are in fixing things- the option to "buy a new one" just doesn't exist.
Praying for something mechanical.
Poor kid - not many options here- it'd be shame to have to amputate for lack of a dermatome! I've made a few contacts here in Rwanda- the closest hospital is 2-3 hours and no better supplied but we'll see.
You might be interested in the treatment of fractures here- by necessity most are treated closed- without operation-high risk of infection and lack if expertise- yesterday I helped these guys reduce a fracture dislocation of humeral neck and a displaced both bone forearm fracture opposite side. My learning curve is pretty steep here!
Next case- simple upper endoscopy- but the light bulb was in need of replacement- and gueaa what? the Olympus representative was no where around- (that's a joke for you nonmedical folks).
I came home and was sharing my day with our neighbors when a wasp stung me in the upper eyelid! I decided then
It was time to call it a day.
Aside from that the kids are good, the weather is beautiful, we are all well.
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