about the initiative
Fixing Open Fractures
Training health care workers to improve surgical care for people all around the world
The prevalence of injury-related fractures is high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This leads to high morbidity and mortality in the young working population.
The problem is complex due to the combination of bone and soft tissue damage. To date, there is no global guideline for the treatment of open fractures that emphasises types of care in different resource settings.
Globally, there are not enough health workers trained in the management of open fractures. Patients are unnecessarily left with impaired function or even death from complications. That's why we created this website.
The problem is complex due to the combination of bone and soft tissue damage. To date, there is no global guideline for the treatment of open fractures that emphasises types of care in different resource settings.
Globally, there are not enough health workers trained in the management of open fractures. Patients are unnecessarily left with impaired function or even death from complications. That's why we created this website.
Injuries and related (open) fractures cause more deaths than HIV, TB and malaria combined.
We want to share the collective global knowledge
about open fractures to everyone in order to reduce mortality.
OUR APPROACH
To train health care workers globally, through the Basics of Open Fractures course, developed by an international team that is familiar with different resource settings
A community of specialists, doctors, residents,
global health practitioners
and students from around the world
Working in unity to perform research and develop
teaching initiatives for global surgery
global health practitioners
and students from around the world
Working in unity to perform research and develop
teaching initiatives for global surgery
About the project
Learn with our basics website, course and cases
We have been working to help improve open fractures care in resource-limited settings by providing training for healthcare workers. But we realized that to make a bigger impact we needed to make essential information widely and continuously available.
That’s why we created the Basics of Open Fractures series: to be able to teach everyone the basic principles of the treatment of open fractures.
That’s why we created the Basics of Open Fractures series: to be able to teach everyone the basic principles of the treatment of open fractures.
Wiki website
We developed a website that collects all information on the treatment of open fractures in different resource settings. Designed for course participants and trainers, also freely accessible to other clinicians and students looking for information on the basics of open fracture management.
Case examples
We share case stories from doctors and their patients. We explain the treatment, the challenges and the lessons learned. From both the doctor's and the patient's perspective, providing a unique insight into care.
Course
As part of our courses in global surgery, we teach the basics of open fracture management. Courses are held in the Netherlands, Tanzania, Uganda and Sierra Leone. Participants are doctors (in training) and sometimes nurses, anesthetists and physiotherapists to train a complete team to care for a patient with an open fracture.
Train the trainer
The ultimate road towards sustainability!
By training trainers we can more frequently provide courses throughout the world. More importantly, the local team will independently train their own staff because they have the tools to teach.
By training trainers we can more frequently provide courses throughout the world. More importantly, the local team will independently train their own staff because they have the tools to teach.
About us
An initiative by Global Surgery Amsterdam
Global Surgery Amsterdam (GSA) is an international research and education institute that works to develop sustainable solutions in global surgery. Based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We work with a global network of healthcare professionals, uniting medical specialists, residents, global health doctors and students to perform research and develop teaching initiatives for global surgery.
At GSA we are dedicated to teaching surgical skills that will improve health outcomes and increase access to surgical education. By building strong connections and partnerships all over the world, we ensure the materials we develop are universally applicable, helping save lives around the world.
At GSA we are dedicated to teaching surgical skills that will improve health outcomes and increase access to surgical education. By building strong connections and partnerships all over the world, we ensure the materials we develop are universally applicable, helping save lives around the world.
A collaboration with:
- Interplast Holland
- Doctors of the World Netherlands
- Capacare
- Amsterdam University Medical Centres, the Netherlands
- Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Tanzania
- Masanga Hospital, Sierra Leone
- Muhimbili Orthopedic institute, Tanzania
- Kirrudu Hospital, Kampala
- Mulago Hospital, Kampala
Introducing the Open Fractures team
Developing content tailored to different resource settings and cultural backgrounds by volunteering their time and expertise
Team
General Information, Epidemiology, Etiology & Cultural context
Coordinator
dr. Job Wernand
Global Health Doctor resident
The Netherlands
Junior Educator
dr. Abeba Aleka Kebede
Medical Doctor
Ethiopia
Junior Educator
Nienke Smits
Medical student
The Netherlands
Senior Educator
dr. Joost Binnerts
Global Health Doctor
The Netherlands & Tanzania
Senior Educator
dr. Jovine Okoth
Medical Doctor
Tanzania
Team
Principles of Bone Healing & Initial Management
Coordinator
Eva Alkemade
Medical Student
The Netherlands
Junior Educator
dr. Davida Oostlander
Global Health Doctor resident
The netherlands
Senior Educator
dr. Grayson Mtui
Orthopedic Surgery resident
Tanzania
Expert
dr. George Njambilo
Orthopedic Surgeon
tanzania
Expert
prof. Jos Bramer
Orthopedic Surgeon
The netherlands
Expert
dr. Daphne van Embden
Trauma Surgeon
the netherlands
Team
Fracture Management
Coordinator
dr. Pim Bongers
Global Health Doctor & Trauma surgery resident
The Netherlands
Junior Educator
dr. Anne Hoekman
Medical doctor
The netherlands
Senior Educator
dr. Nils Jan Bleeker
MD PhD
The Netherlands
Senior Educator
dr. Hanneke van Eden
Surgical resident
The Netherlands
Expert
dr. Wouter ten Cate
Trauma Surgeon
The Netherlands
Expert
dr. Daphne van Embden
Trauma Surgeon
The Netherlands
Expert
dr. Rinse Meester
Orthopedic Surgeon
The netherlands
Expert
dr. Alina Ortega Briones
Trauma & Orthopedic Surgeon
spain
Team
Soft Tissue Management
Coordinator
dr. Matthijs Botman
Plastic Surgeon
The Netherlands
Junior Educator
Paula van Oosten
Medical student
The netherlands
Senior Educator
dr. Saskia Brinkman
Plastic Surgery resident
The Netherlands
Expert
dr. Caroline Driessen
Plastic Surgeon
The Netherlands
Expert
dr. Jenda Hop
Plastic Surgeon
The netherlands
Expert
dr. Titus Opegu
Plastic Surgeon
uganda
Expert
dr. Edris Kalanzi
Plastic Surgeon
uganda
Expert
dr. Hay Winters
Plastic Surgeon
the netherlands
Team
Fracture Related Infections & Osteomyelitis
Coordinator
dr. Job Wernand
Global Health Doctor resident
The Netherlands
Junior Educator
dr. Tinsae Abera Worku
Medical Doctor
ethiopia
Junior Educator
Stijn Stegeman
Medical student
The Netherlands
Senior Educator
dr. Marieke Noorlander- Borgdorff
ANIOS Surgery & PhD candidate
The Netherlands
Senior Educator
dr. Marc van de Ree
Orthopedic Surgery resident
The netherlands
Senior Educator
dr. Bart ten Brinke
Orthopedic Surgeon
The netherlands
Expert
dr. Loz Harry
Trauma & Plastic Reconstructive Surgeon
united kingdom
Expert
prof. Selvadurai Nayagam
Orthopedic Surgeon
united kingdom
Expert
dr. Erik Staal
Orthopedic Surgeon
Tanzania