Reconstructive Surgery for the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Global Gaps and Future Directions
Background:. Several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are highly disfiguring, particularly those in resource-poor countries that lack access to basic surgery. There has been a push to integrate surgery into treatment programs for NTDs. In this article, we provide an overview of the major disfiguri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004987 |
| _version_ | 1797817474340618240 |
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| author | Kala T. Pham, BS Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD Kristy L. Hamilton, MD |
| author_facet | Kala T. Pham, BS Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD Kristy L. Hamilton, MD |
| author_sort | Kala T. Pham, BS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background:. Several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are highly disfiguring, particularly those in resource-poor countries that lack access to basic surgery. There has been a push to integrate surgery into treatment programs for NTDs. In this article, we provide an overview of the major disfiguring NTDs and discuss the processes and barriers that impede access to reconstructive surgical treatments or their integration into health systems.
Methods:. A review of the literature was conducted using the online database PubMed, from 2008 to 2021 with the specific diseases listed as NTDs either on the World Health Organization or the PLoS Neglected Tropical Disease websites. Reference lists of identified articles and reviews were also searched, as were databases from the World Health Organization’s Weekly Epidemiological Record.
Result:. Success in the surgical treatment and postoperative care of disfiguring NTDs would benefit from standardization and harmonization of surgical approaches and procedures. In some settings, reconstructive surgery should be used cautiously, emphasizing appropriate use of antibiotics, partnerships with global and local surgical teams, and local capacity building. Preventative hygiene approaches remain paramount in resource-poor areas.
Conclusions:. Surgery is a promising treatment for NTDs that result in disfigurement and disability. The expansion of local capacity building, with medical trips and surgical training of local health workers, together with the development of universal surgical protocols remain essential cornerstones for NTD reconstructive surgery. Antibiotics and drug management should comprise key first steps before turning to surgery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:55:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-170f75624ba2413aaa9cb07f84e98114 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2169-7574 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:55:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-170f75624ba2413aaa9cb07f84e981142023-05-29T03:33:14ZengWolters KluwerPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open2169-75742023-05-01115e498710.1097/GOX.0000000000004987202305000-00016Reconstructive Surgery for the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Global Gaps and Future DirectionsKala T. Pham, BS0Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD1Kristy L. Hamilton, MD2From the * Departments of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Tex.‡ Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.§ Private Practice, Houston, Tex.Background:. Several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are highly disfiguring, particularly those in resource-poor countries that lack access to basic surgery. There has been a push to integrate surgery into treatment programs for NTDs. In this article, we provide an overview of the major disfiguring NTDs and discuss the processes and barriers that impede access to reconstructive surgical treatments or their integration into health systems. Methods:. A review of the literature was conducted using the online database PubMed, from 2008 to 2021 with the specific diseases listed as NTDs either on the World Health Organization or the PLoS Neglected Tropical Disease websites. Reference lists of identified articles and reviews were also searched, as were databases from the World Health Organization’s Weekly Epidemiological Record. Result:. Success in the surgical treatment and postoperative care of disfiguring NTDs would benefit from standardization and harmonization of surgical approaches and procedures. In some settings, reconstructive surgery should be used cautiously, emphasizing appropriate use of antibiotics, partnerships with global and local surgical teams, and local capacity building. Preventative hygiene approaches remain paramount in resource-poor areas. Conclusions:. Surgery is a promising treatment for NTDs that result in disfigurement and disability. The expansion of local capacity building, with medical trips and surgical training of local health workers, together with the development of universal surgical protocols remain essential cornerstones for NTD reconstructive surgery. Antibiotics and drug management should comprise key first steps before turning to surgery.http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004987 |
| spellingShingle | Kala T. Pham, BS Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD Kristy L. Hamilton, MD Reconstructive Surgery for the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Global Gaps and Future Directions Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open |
| title | Reconstructive Surgery for the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Global Gaps and Future Directions |
| title_full | Reconstructive Surgery for the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Global Gaps and Future Directions |
| title_fullStr | Reconstructive Surgery for the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Global Gaps and Future Directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reconstructive Surgery for the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Global Gaps and Future Directions |
| title_short | Reconstructive Surgery for the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Global Gaps and Future Directions |
| title_sort | reconstructive surgery for the neglected tropical diseases global gaps and future directions |
| url | http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004987 |
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