Surgical Treatment of Pediatric Congenital and Neuromuscular Deformities in Central America: Honduras

Podiatrists from across the United States (California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, Hawaii, and Arizona, including podiatric residents) have participated in performing major pediatric reconstructive foot and ankle surgery in various Central American countries as part of the Baja Project for Crippled Children, Inc. The most recent mission to Honduras completed surgery on 40 (adjust) children and adults with a variety of serious congenital and acquired lower extremity deformities (congenital clubfoot, congenital vertical talus, deformities of neurological origin, etc) which make ambulation difficult, painful, or both.

This humanitarian effort has great social and health consequences for the afflicted individuals. These corrective surgical procedures are unavailable to the poor populations of these countries and has significant impact on their ability to participate in available educational opportunities when they are young, and often improves their ability to gain satisfactory employment as adults, thus leaving them as having a more positive social and economic impact on their families and community.

Training of local orthopedic surgeons in newer concepts and techniques as well as utilizing them for post operative care has enabled the continued improvement in patient care in the areas where we have worked. Lectures to other local health care personnel and medical residents on recognition and therapy for conditions such as congenital clubfoot has allowed conservative Ponsetti casting techniques to commence soon after birth rather than waiting for foreign medical teams to perform surgical care.