Rosemont, Illinois, Dec. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and related restrictions, volunteers are out American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) traveled to Kenya to treat patients with lower extremity deformities and disabilities as part of the International project of the Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Foundation in Kenya.

Orthopedic surgeons and foot and ankle volunteers James K. DeOrio, MD, of Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, and Jacob R. Zide, MD, of Orthopedic Associates of Dallas, began working with Kenyan surgeons at CURE International Kijabe beginning in November Mission Hospital 14-18, 2022. In five days, the duo performed about 40 corrective foot and ankle surgeries and conducted additional consultations for Kenyan adults and children.

“My expectations were exceeded in every respect,” said Dr. DeOrio. “The Kenyan surgeons were very focused on patient care and wanted to work together to help as many patients as possible.”

The Foundation started Overseas Outreach Projects in 2002. In nearly two decades, volunteers have performed more than 1,500 surgeries and 3,500 patient exams in underserved areas of Vietnam, all at no cost to patients. Kenya was introduced as an additional humanitarian site in 2019, but COVID-19 travel restrictions barred return until this year.

“The surgeons and staff were interested in our knowledge, particularly the surgical technical tips for procedures that could provide the best and most permanent corrections,” added Dr. Add Zide.

The surgeons volunteered their time and paid for their trip to Kenya. Domestic costs were taken over by the Orthopedic foot and ankle foundationsupported by a grant from Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. To learn more about the Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Foundation’s Overseas Outreach Projects, please visit aofas.org/foundation.

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