DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPEDICS

Tremendous advancement has been achieved in Orthopedics. Orthopedic treatment of fractures, broken bones, strained muscles, torn ligaments and tendons are routinely performed. Advances in the field have led to the use of bone grafts and artificial plastic joints for bones damaged by disease. Artificial limbs, special footwear and braces are routinely prescribed for the disabled patient by orthopedic surgeons.

Arthroscopic surgery has been introduced, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and less invasive treatment of many joint conditions including cartilage and ligament of the knee.

Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric Surgery performs a variety of surgical procedures which can be broadly categorized as: (1) neonatal surgery (2) general pediatric surgery, and (3) pediatric urology.

Neonatal surgery includes tracheo-esophageal fistula, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, necrotizing enterocolitis, colostomy for imperforated anus followed by posterior sagital anorectoplasty for different varieties of imperforated anus.

General pediatric surgery includes abdominal tumors, hernia, orchiopexy, thyroglossal cyst, ranula, spleenectomy, to mention some. The number of pediatric urological cases has increased remarkably in recent years. Major operations done in the hospital include pyeloplasty for PUJ obstruction, ureteric reimplantation for V-u reflux, collagen injection for treatment of V-u reflux.

Laparoscopic surgeries such as diagnostic abdominal laparoscopy, laparoscopic appendectomy, and laparoscopic excision of ovarian cyst are also performed by the team.

Pediatric Surgery provides specialty consultation services to Pediatrics Department, PICU, NICU, Women's Hospital, Child Rehabilitation Center in Rumailah Hospital and SICU.

Statistics

Major surgical procedures rose by 65% to 11,120 in 1997 from 6,745 in 1984. Total outpatient visits in the department also grew by 13% to 120,141 in 1997 from 106,362 in 1988.

General Surgery, in particular, performed 3,710 major surgeries in 1997 as compared to only 2,916 in 1984. Its outpatient services also grew by 37% from 18,643 outpatient visits in 1988 to 25,577 in 1997.

Across all other subspecialties, outpatient visits and surgical procedures have increased substantially. The increase in the demand for clinical services, in particular, has been complemented by an increase in the number of consultation clinics.

Training

The Department of Surgery postgraduate teaching program is recognized by the Arab Board for Medical Specialization. Residency training is offered in General Surgery (1984), Orthopedics (1989), Urology (1992), Ophthalmology (1994) and ENT (1995).

Eight candidates in General Surgery have passed the Arab Board examinations and some have joined the department. About three to six candidates join the Residency Program in General Surgery annually.

Three residents in Urology have passed the first part of the Arab Board in Urology. One resident has obtained his FRCS qualification most recently.

The ENT Section, which has a four-year Arab Board postgraduate residency program, is also a recognized training center of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.

The Arab Board Program in Ophthalmology which was started in 1994 conducts lectures and scientific meetings every week in addition to the mandatory clinical rounds and surgical operations. Two residents join the program every year.

Future Vision

High on the priority list of the department is the upgrade of its facilities.