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El Zohbi F1, Hammoud A1, Sultan K1, Mitri R1, Al Zoobi T2, Abeel M3, Ley P3
1International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Health, Tripoli, Lebanon, 2International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Health, Lebanon, Lebanon, 3International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Health, Geneva, Switzerland
Background: The Weapon Traumatology Training Center (WTTC) in Tripoli, Lebanon, was set up in in 2014 by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide comprehensive clinical treatment for war victims with severe chronic conditions. The WTTC was set up in response to the Syrian Civil War recognizing the difficulties to provide complex medical treatment and ensure appropriate follow-up. Due to the crisis the Syrian healthcare system came under strain and was unable to provide adequate treatment to all those in need. As a result, the vast majority of these patients, who survived the initial traumas and surgeries, developed chronic conditions which prevented them from leading a normal life. This was exacerbated by the high mobility of patients and healthcare professionals, often becoming refugees. This patient population presented themselves with a combination of non-unions, osteomyelitis, mobility restrictions, psychological traumas, chronic pain, etc. Given these complexities, treatment is often long and the involvement of a dedicated multidisciplinary team (MDT) is crucial for success.
Our mission is not to save life but to give back a life.
Purpose: The objective of the current project is to focus on the role that physiotherapy has in providing comprehensive care for weapon wounded. This is in line with ICRC's mission to protect the lives and dignity of armed conflict victims and to provide them with assistance.
Methods: Four years after the WTTC was set up, the authors evaluate and assess retrospectively the role of physical therapy as part of the multidisciplinary team on the comprehensive treatment of complex weapon wounded.
This will be discussed on 3 dimensions:
a) Specificities of PT practice in WTTC;
b) The role and relevance of physiotherapy within the MDT;
c) challenges and lessons learned for similar projects.
Results: Since the start of the project 870 weapon wounded patients have received physiotherapy services, a patient population with predominantly orthopedic complications. Physiotherapy practice within the WTTC includes several aspects that are uncommon within the general scope of practice. PT's have to familiarize themselves with specificities of penetrating weapon wounds, managing large bone deficits and osteomyelitis, skin and bone traction, fabrication of splints and casts, severe mobility limitations, hand injuries, amputations, maxilla-facial and psychological trauma.
The role of physiotherapy within the MDT has been considered essential because of the prolonged need of hospitalization, presence of complications. Focus on functional independence and for ensuring successful surgeries and improve outcomes.
Challenges and lessons learned include the need for standardizing and collecting functional outcome measures, developing specific training programs and bridging hospitalization towards re-integration.
Conclusion(s): Providing comprehensive treatment for people suffering from sequela of weapon wounds can greatly improve their functional independence and decrease the burden of disability on society following armed conflict. Physical rehabilitation is central to bridge medical procedures to socioeconomic reintegration.
Implications: The lessons learned at WTTC are relevant for other institutions that are providing support to persons with disabilities following weapon wounds. Implications include the need and value for investing in human resources to provide physical rehabilitation as part of a comprehensive treatment program.
Keywords: multidisciplinary approach, Syrian refugees, reconstructive surgery
Funding acknowledgements: International committee of Red Cross
Our mission is not to save life but to give back a life.
Purpose: The objective of the current project is to focus on the role that physiotherapy has in providing comprehensive care for weapon wounded. This is in line with ICRC's mission to protect the lives and dignity of armed conflict victims and to provide them with assistance.
Methods: Four years after the WTTC was set up, the authors evaluate and assess retrospectively the role of physical therapy as part of the multidisciplinary team on the comprehensive treatment of complex weapon wounded.
This will be discussed on 3 dimensions:
a) Specificities of PT practice in WTTC;
b) The role and relevance of physiotherapy within the MDT;
c) challenges and lessons learned for similar projects.
Results: Since the start of the project 870 weapon wounded patients have received physiotherapy services, a patient population with predominantly orthopedic complications. Physiotherapy practice within the WTTC includes several aspects that are uncommon within the general scope of practice. PT's have to familiarize themselves with specificities of penetrating weapon wounds, managing large bone deficits and osteomyelitis, skin and bone traction, fabrication of splints and casts, severe mobility limitations, hand injuries, amputations, maxilla-facial and psychological trauma.
The role of physiotherapy within the MDT has been considered essential because of the prolonged need of hospitalization, presence of complications. Focus on functional independence and for ensuring successful surgeries and improve outcomes.
Challenges and lessons learned include the need for standardizing and collecting functional outcome measures, developing specific training programs and bridging hospitalization towards re-integration.
Conclusion(s): Providing comprehensive treatment for people suffering from sequela of weapon wounds can greatly improve their functional independence and decrease the burden of disability on society following armed conflict. Physical rehabilitation is central to bridge medical procedures to socioeconomic reintegration.
Implications: The lessons learned at WTTC are relevant for other institutions that are providing support to persons with disabilities following weapon wounds. Implications include the need and value for investing in human resources to provide physical rehabilitation as part of a comprehensive treatment program.
Keywords: multidisciplinary approach, Syrian refugees, reconstructive surgery
Funding acknowledgements: International committee of Red Cross
Topic: Disaster management
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: international committee of Red Cross
Ethics committee: International committee of Red Cross
Reason not required: the use of Data is just to count number and outcomes their is no presentation of names or patients
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
