Operation International has been working with the leadership in Kakamega, Kenya. The total knee replacement surgeries will take place at the County General Hospital, Kakamega. The goal is to have a long-term collaboration with the local hospital and surgeons to provide care for the local patients. Our secondary goals are to train the local surgeons with complex cases, train the local staff, and at the same time establish patient care protocols to help improve outcomes. The mission will consist of approximately 50 total knee replacements for patients severely affected by arthritis.
This area/hospital serves a population of 1.5 Million residents. Patients severely affected by knee arthritis will be served.
40-50 Total Knee Joint Replacement
The patients we cared for in Kakamega, Kenya were the people most directly impacted by this mission. As part of Team Ortho with Operation International, our goal was to provide total knee replacement surgery to individuals whose severe arthritis and chronic joint disease had dramatically limited their mobility and quality of life. Many of our patients were no longer able to work, care for their families, or participate fully in their communities because of debilitating knee pain.
Over the course of five days, our multidisciplinary team—including four orthopedic surgeons, a CRNA, nurses, scrub technicians, and myself as the anesthesiologist—performed more than 25 joint replacements. I provided spinal anesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks to help ensure safe surgeries and effective postoperative pain control.
The impact of these procedures extends far beyond the operating room. Restoring mobility gives patients the opportunity to return to work, regain their independence, and improve their overall quality of life. Their gratitude was overwhelming, and it was inspiring to witness the hope that these surgeries brought to them and their families.
Receiving a Doximity grant to cover my round-trip airfare made this volunteer mission financially feasible for me. I am deeply grateful for that support, as it enabled me to contribute my skills to a team dedicated to providing life-changing surgical care to an underserved community. It was a privilege to be part of this mission, and I feel fortunate to have helped make a meaningful difference in the lives of these patients.
