SIGN Nail: Creating Equality of Fracture Care Thoughout the World

How would I be treated if I broke my leg?

This depends on where in the world you are when this happens to you, and how much money you have available for treatment.  In the USA we fix long bone fractures of the thigh/femur and shin/tibia with intramedullary nails put in with assistance of x-ray in the operating room.  This allows patients to mobilize soon after surgery.

Current treatment of these fractures in the developing world, including Zimbabwe, most often involves being placed in traction and lying in bed for 2-3 months while the fractures heal. This can lead to a number of complications including failure of the fracture to heal or healing in a poor position, bedsores, pneumonia, and blood clots. It ties up hospital resources and leaves patients unable to support their families for months.  Unfortunately, these injuries are very common in Zimbabwe, with overloaded vehicles in poor condition traveling at high speeds on neglected roads.

We hope to establish a program at Karanda Hospital in Zimbabwe and possibly the main trauma hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe to treat long bone fractures with modern techniques.  The program would use the SIGN Nail system developed by the non-profit, SIGN Fracture Care International, which was founded by Lewis Zirkle, MD out of Richland, Washington.  You can learn more about them at:

(http://www.signfracturecare.org/).

The goal of SIGN is to create global equality in fracture care.  The SIGN system is designed to allow the surgeon to place the implant in a fractured limb in developing and austere settings without the use of x-ray (c-arm).  This is important because intraoperative x-ray is not widely available outside of developed countries.

With the SIGN system patients can be mobilized the day after surgery!  There are now over 200 SIGN hospitals in more than 50 developing countries.  Over 95,000 patients have been treated with SIGN since 1999!  After pre and post operative x-rays are emailed back to SIGN for quality control, SIGN provides new nails somewhere between free and the $100 per nail cost, depending on the hospitals financial situation.  This is a steep discount from the >$1500 retail value.

Our hope is to start 1-2 programs in Zimbabwe, and train in their surgeons while we are serving there over 5 months.  

The start up cost with 1-2 sets of surgical equipment and 100 nails is $15,000-25,000 per hospital.  This is a lot of money. We are praying for provision and guidance for raising support for this project. This equipment and surgical education will greatly improve the lives of patients and their families.

If you are interested in supporting this tax-deductible project, contact us or go directly to www.signfracturecare.org and click on the yellow donate button.  This will take you to a page where you can make a donation using a credit card or a PayPal account.  There is a spot under “Notes” where you can earmark you donation for the Karanda Zimbabwe Project.

Tansen Hospital in Nepal

                                            Where is Nepal?? 
                                  As you can see, its sandwhiched between China and India.

The United Mission Hospital Tansen is located in Buhsaldanda.

Facts:

Language: Most people speak Nepali though there are 20 other languages divided into a variety of dialects.  Much of the Nepalese government speak English. 

Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NR) 74.4NR=1US Dollar

Population: 23,200,200

Climate: Subtropical summers with mild winters. Harsher winters and cool summers up in the mountains.

Home of the largest mountain in the world. Mount Everest!!

Quite a view from Tansen!!!

Tansen Hospital currently has 313 employees.  The hospital offers a surgical ward, maternity ward, burn unit, orthopaedic ward (where Ryan will work), medical ward, and pediatric ward (where I will be helping out). The hospital also contains clinics for men, woman and children; psychiatric, diabetes, problem pregnancy, ENT, leprosy/TB, dental, endoscopy, ultrasound, x-ray, lab, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy. There are 2 operating rooms, 2 procedure rooms, and a community health department.

We will be leaving on August 6th, 2012. Ryan, Winslow and I will arrive in Kathmandu where we will spend a week adjusting to the altitude, food, culture and lifestyle.   I am told there is a pretty amazing zoo close by our hotel so we will be showing Winslow all sorts of animals!!  From Kathmandu we will take another 2 hour flight and 45 min. car ride into Tansen.

                                                                Photos

The local market. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies!!

Tansen Countryside. Pretty spectacular!!

Stay tuned for info on Zimbabwe, Africa!

Photos

  

My name is Andrea and I am a wife, child life specialist and mother to a beautiful baby boy, Winlsow.  

4 short years ago I met my husband, Ryan.  Ryan was in his intern year of Orthopedics and I was working at the University of Minnesota, Children's Hospital.  We worked with the same patient and after a few encounters, Ryan asked me out.  We were married 2 years after and now have a 4 month old boy, Winslow!

 I feel very blessed to have met Ryan. He truly is the most kind and gentle person I know. He has a passion for people, travel and serving.  These are just a few of his qualities that made me fall in love. I desperately believe that the Lord brought Ryan and I together.  We work! Like peanut butter and chocolate!  

While Ryan and I were dating we shared our hopes and dreams of a future together. One of our hopes and dreams is to travel overseas and serve the Lord.  Through much conversation, research and prayer, we have decided to complete a year of mission work after Ryan graduates from his residency.  

Yes, we will be bringing Winslow!!  

In August of 2012 we will be on our way to Tansen Hospital in Nepal where we will spend 5 months.  Ryan will be serving as an orthopedic surgeon and I will be helping out with the children as well as raising little Winslow. check out the website if you're interested!  http://www.tansenhospital.org.np/

In December we will take off for Zimbabwe, Africa!  Here we will be doing the same thing for the next 5 months.  

I feel both excited and nervous for our adventure.  Its funny because EVERY time I feel scared or question what we are doing, God shows me that everything will be okay.  3 weeks ago at Church the sermon was about never fearing, for God will always wrap his arms around you and keep you safe.  The Lord has a plan and He will pave the way.   So far, the plans for our trip have unraveled with ease, which makes me feel confident.  

That's all for now!

We will keep you updated as we draw near this great Horazdovsky Adventure!