It was a great pleasure to be able to travel to Samoa for the first time since 2019 post Covid. The outpatients clinic at Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Apia is as busy as ever! Unfortunately the usual limitations in the operating theatre are currently compounded by the absence of a working Image Intensifier machine so there is no intra-operative imaging available. The week was a major success starting with attendance as match day doctors at the Moana Pacifika V Queensland Reds game at Apia Park and finishing with a very difficult surgical hip dislocation for a chronic fractured femoral head and dislocated hip!
It was tremendous to catch up with Dr Shaun Mauiliu and Dr Areta Samuelu who each spent two years training as registrars at Tauranga Hospital and who now run the orthopaedic department at TTM Hospital. It was lovely to meet and work with the young Samoan registrar Dr Rob Fa'ataga. NZ registrar Dr Teriana Maheno joined Vaughan Poutawera for this visit. As always, many thanks to the local team in Apia for the warm hospitality.
The Orthopacifix Team will be back soon!
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