Plastic surgery in Ladakh: a novel initiative in trans Himalaya of India

ABSTRACT

Background: The super speciality care is not available in remote places in India. But the service of the plastic surgery can be taken to the remote district hospital by arranging plastic surgery camps thereby resulting in service to the poor, capacity building of the local doctors and infrastructure development of the remote hospital.Methods: It is a retrospective study, in which the author analysed the feasibility, management, difficulties and achievement of week long, annual plastic surgery camp in remote set up of a district hospital of Ladakh over three year from 2017 to 2019.Results: A total of 341 patients were included in this study of which 108 underwent various surgical interventions. The youngest operated was 5 months old and oldest was 86 years. Wide spectrum of deformity were seen and operated upon. Complication developed in only six patients (5.5%) which were managed successfully at Leh only. The immediate and long term follow-up result show no difference in surgical result as compared to those compared operated outside with negligible financial burden.Conclusions: Keeping in view the positive outcome, it is argued through this paper that such camps should be replicated in other remote locations all over India.