By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lovelady
Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah Public Affairs Officer
FORWARD OPERATING BASE FARAH, Afghanistan – Members of the 67th Forward Surgical Team trained surgeons and mid-level care providers from Farah City Thursday.
U.S. Army Maj. Leah Triolo and Sgt. Kyle Specht conducted the second of what they hope will be a monthly training session with local healthcare providers. Triolo, an orthopedic surgeon, began the class by demonstrating the proper use of an external fixation device and fielding questions from the visiting physicians.
“We use the external fixation device when a fracture can’t be stabilized with a cast or a splint.” Triolo explained, “Or when the soft tissue requires attention, which we see a lot from blast wounds. This device allows us to stabilize the fracture without covering it.”
After the demonstration, each visitor was provided an external fixation device and fractured training bone and was allowed to practice the techniques they had just learned. Specht, an operating room technician, guided them through the procedure and showed them some tricks of the trade to make the process less painful for the patient.
The second training session was scheduled after a concern was brought to light following the first. The surgeons had learned to apply casts and splints, but were not equipped or trained to effectively treat open fractures. This condition is commonly seen when treating Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police members after attacks.
Training competent and confident Afghan surgeons and health care providers is an important step in building the population’s trust in the government and its programs.
“They need to be ready to take over the surgical mission, take care of the ANA and ANP and decrease their dependence on coalition assistance,” said Triolo.
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2012 03:12 |
| Story ID: | 86848 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE FARAH, AF |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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