TY - JOUR
T1 - Treating natural disaster victims is dealing with shortages
T2 - An orthopaedics perspective
AU - Dewo, Punto
AU - Magetsari, Rahadyan
AU - Busscher, Henk J.
AU - van Horn, Jim R.
AU - Verkerke, Gijsbertus J.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - During natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, most of the casualties are known to suffer from musculoskeletal injuries. This leads to an enormous need of orthopaedic (surgical) implants such as osteosynthesis plates, which are difficult to provide in developing countries that rely on imported ones. One of the alternatives is utilization of local resources, but only after they have been proven safe to use, and meet the international standards set. Through this paper we would like to urge the international community to include locally produced biomedical products, like osteosynthesis plates in their scientific evaluations and communications. When the quality of local products is proven, the reluctance to use local products also by surgeons from developing countries will disappear and larger scale production can be initiated. This in its turn solves many problems that come after natural disasters and stimulates the national economy in an efficient and effective way.
AB - During natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, most of the casualties are known to suffer from musculoskeletal injuries. This leads to an enormous need of orthopaedic (surgical) implants such as osteosynthesis plates, which are difficult to provide in developing countries that rely on imported ones. One of the alternatives is utilization of local resources, but only after they have been proven safe to use, and meet the international standards set. Through this paper we would like to urge the international community to include locally produced biomedical products, like osteosynthesis plates in their scientific evaluations and communications. When the quality of local products is proven, the reluctance to use local products also by surgeons from developing countries will disappear and larger scale production can be initiated. This in its turn solves many problems that come after natural disasters and stimulates the national economy in an efficient and effective way.
KW - Local resources
KW - Natural disaster
KW - Orthopaedic
KW - Osteosynthesis plate
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=52449133796&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/thc-2008-16403
DO - 10.3233/thc-2008-16403
M3 - Short survey
C2 - 18776602
SN - 0928-7329
VL - 16
SP - 255
EP - 259
JO - Technology and health care
JF - Technology and health care
IS - 4
ER -