Orthopaedics

 

Mercy Ships Orthopaedics helps people with musculoskeletal disorders by providing free operations for the poor. Those suffering from torn ligaments, arthritis, automobile accidents, congenital deformities, war injuries, gun shot wounds and much more receive free life-changing care. The Orthopaedic Team has helped people like Roselena.

Roselena’s Story

No one knew seven years ago that when Roselena came down with a fever one day, that it could possibly ruin her life forever.

Roselena desperately wants to be a normal teenager – she wants to go to school, get a job ironing clothes and someday get married. However, after Roselena’s unknown sickness ravaged her young body, her life consists of little more than lying around her parent’s house.

When a Mercy Ships orthopaedic team came to offer free services in Roselena’s city, her family brought her in for help. As she waited to be seen, the team’s photographer tried to take Roselena’s pictures but she quickly pulled a towel over her face shielding herself in shame.

The orthopaedic team accepted a fearful Roselena for surgery. After the orthopaedic team corrected her feet and she saw that both her feet were flat for the first time in years, her fear turned into joy and celebration!

The next day she awoke with a bright face, her hair was styled, she had on jewellery and she welcomed attention and pictures. Roselena’s confidence had soared in 24 hours; she had hope and excitement for the future.

Mercy Ships Orthopaedics performs the following operations:

  • Paediatric / Congenital Reconstruction
    Correcting club feet, bowed legs, etc.
  • Adult Reconstruction
    Including joint replacement and amputation revisions
  • Neglected Trauma
    Fracture non-unions many months to years since the injury
  • Hand Surgery
    Burn revisions and releases, skin grafts, and tendon releases
  • Arthroscopy (on a limited basis)
    For arthritis, torn cartilage, and ligament reconstruction
  • Acute Trauma
     Numerous auto and cycle accidents, war injuries, and falls from heights

    To perform these surgeries, volunteers are needed to be a part of an Orthopaedic team. All physicians, registered nurses, and physical therapists (whether volunteering in a short-term or career capacity) must have completed at least two years in a medical practice and/or in a hospital setting following their training before joining Mercy Ships for direct medical purposes. This is due to the protocol we have with the developing nations. Additionally, volunteers are required to have health insurance that covers them internationally, and special immunizations may be necessary.

Meet the Career Staff of Mercy Ships Orthopaedics:



James McDaniel, M.D., Faculty Orthopaedic Consultant
Dawn Crowther, Orthopaedic Program Manager

Positions needing to be filled for field services are:

  •       Surgeons
    All orthopaedic subspecialties (except spines), with current license

  •       Physician’s Assistants
    Ortho PA, with current license

  •        Anaesthesiologists / Anaesthetist
    Providing care to patients in surgical theatres

  •         Nurses
    Operating Room and Ward

  •         Surgical Technicians
    With orthopaedic skills in the operating room

  •         Therapists
    Physical and Occupational Therapists to provide rehab and follow-up care for ortho and plastics patients

The first step to be a volunteer with us is to complete a Mercy Ships application. You can do this online by clicking here for an application.

After the application has been approved, a person becomes eligible to join Mercy Ships and volunteer with Ortho. In 2006 the Orthopaedic Program will only be in West Africa with Mercy Ships. Orthopaedic surgeries will be done on the new ship, Africa Mercy.

With a new ship being launched, and with the ship having an operating room built for orthopaedic surgeries, the Ortho Program is now shifting their focus from Central America to West Africa. During the five years that the Orthopaedic Team was a land-based team in Central America, they performed almost 1,030 surgeries. The team now looks forward to being based on a ship and helping the people in West Africa.

WEST AFRICA

- Where:        The orthopaedic volunteers will live onboard the Africa Mercy and serve in one of the six operating rooms on the ship. The Mercy Ship plans to be in Ghana, West Africa for her first field service, the exact timing of which is still to be determined. The Africa Mercy will be the first ship in the in the fleet to have a dedicated orthopaedic operating room.

- Length:      2 weeks minimum for surgeon, first assistant, and operating nurses. 4 weeks minimum for ward nurses. During the Africa Mercy’s first field service trip, Ortho plans to do six weeks of surgery.

- Price:           To serve on a Mercy Ship, the cost is about $15 USD per day per person for food and lodging. Volunteers also need to pay the airfare to and from where the ship is docked.

- Surgery:     Ortho plans to do paediatric, total knee or hip joint, and trauma cases on the Africa Mercy.

Mercy Ships, a faith based global charity, has offices in several nations. The Orthopaedic Team is based at the International Operations Centre in Texas, USA. The small team is looking for another orthopaedic surgeon and a person with skills in procuring supplies and keeping an inventory up to date to join them at the office in Texas. Joining with the rest of the Mercy Ships volunteers, the Orthopaedic Team uses their skills to bring hope and healing to the poor.

Orthopaedics Mission

To demonstrate God’s compassion in international orthopaedic missions by delivering quality care and hope, through physical and spiritual healing, benefiting those we serve and those who serve with us.

Orthopaedics Vision

To be known as a world leader in bringing restoration to people in need.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. – Hebrews 12:12-13

For further info, simply e-mail us, call (903) 939-7000 or fax (903) 939-7110.