Knee replacement surgery available soon

The move is expected to reduce the cost of total knee replacement for Cameroonians by half.

The fifth annual conference of Cameroon Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma, SOCCOT, held at the "Complexe d'acueil et de ressourcement Déo Gracias," Mbankolo, Yaounde recently. The themes discussed were trauma during asymmetric warfare and football matches, and in mid-arm fractures. Trauma in surgery refers to an injury caused by an external agent.

Talking to Cameroon Tribune at the end of the conference, Prof. Jean Bahebeck, President of SOCCOT, announced that with Indian assistance, technology and expertise to carry out total knee replacement surgery will be available in Cameroon by the end of 2016. He said the cost is expected to go down by half - from the FCFA 7 million obtainable in Europe today - to about FCFA 3.5 million . "It is a whole package - knowledge, know-how, equipment, instruments, implants and patient referrals," he explained.

Similarly, difficult Cameroonian cases will henceforth be referred to India at half their normal cost. The practicum phase of the total knee replacement training took place at the Emana Catholic Hospital, Yaounde, with about 25 conference participants taking part. More training will follow suit.

In the coming months, Cameroonian surgeons are expected to acquire Indian technology and equipment to carry out total knee replacement surgical interventions. Conference participants also pushed for the inclusion of orthopaedics in all medical training in Cameroon.

Prof. Bahebeck noted that trauma in the current war against Boko Haram affects everyone because a bomb can go off at anytime, affecting anyone. He disclosed that his association has so far treated many cases of people injured in the Boko Haram war. Football as a contact sport, he said, easily gets players injured. SCCOT also thought of the need to organise the conference on trauma in football as Cameroon will soon host both the female and men's African Cup of Nations football tournaments.