Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Sardjito General Hospital, School of Medicine University of Gadjah Mada, Jogjakarta, Indonesia | [b] Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands | [c] Department of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, The Netherlands
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Punto Dewo, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Sardjito General Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Gadjah Mada, Jalan Kesehatan No. 1, Jogjakarta 55281, Indonesia. E-mail: orthougm@indo.net.id; dewo777@yahoo.com.
Abstract: During natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, most of the casualties are known to suffer from musculoskeletal injuries. This leads to an enormous need of orthopaedic (surgical) implants such as osteosynthesis plates, which are difficult to provide in developing countries that rely on imported ones. One of the alternatives is utilization of local resources, but only after they have been proven safe to use, and meet the international standards set. Through this paper we would like to urge the international community to include locally produced biomedical products, like osteosynthesis plates in their scientific evaluations and communications. When the quality of local products is proven, the reluctance to use local products also by surgeons from developing countries will disappear and larger scale production can be initiated. This in its turn solves many problems that come after natural disasters and stimulates the national economy in an efficient and effective way.
Keywords: Natural disaster, orthopaedic, osteosynthesis plate, local resources
