Education Fellowship Diaries

The OTC Foundation (OTCF) Fellowship Diaries are written by our Fellows, in their own words to give them an opportunity to recount their experiences of the time spent learning at one of our OTC Host Centers.

Meet the 2011 Education Fellows:

Rohit Luthra

FRANCE – Dr. Rohit Luthra, M.D. from Marahashtra, India was welcomed by the OTCFs Education Fellowship Center in Strasbourg, France for a four-week Fellowship in October 2011 with Dr. G. Taglang.

Dr. Rohit Luthra: It gives me immense pleasure to write about my fellowship training with the OTC Foundation. The duration of my fellowship was of four weeks i.e. from 2nd October to 28th October 2011 with Prof. Gilbert Taglang in Hospital de Hautepiere, Strasbourg.

During the four weeks of my fellowship I learnt many new operative techniques and saw some good surgeries performed by the doctors. This hospital being the maintrauma centre had a variety of different cases. I saw many trauma cases like nailing, plating, peri-prosthetic fracture treatment, pelvic and spine injuries etc. Dr. Taglang being a pioneer of nailing, shared his knowledge and skills about fracture nailing techniques. Apart from trauma surgeries, I saw hip and knee replacement surgeries as well. I also learnt a variety of different approaches to the hip including the MIS  and saw navigated TKA performed by Dr. Bonnomet. The doctors in the hospital were very friendly and tried to solve all the queries.

I received a very warm welcome in Strasbourg. The hospital staff was very friendly and kind. I would like to thank Karin Wyss and Margot Hamm for arranging everything so beautifully and making my stay in Strasbourg so pleasant. It was an honour to learn from great surgeons like Dr. Taglang and Prof. Bonnomet. This fellowship has boosted my confidence and had helped me enhance my surgical skills.

Thank you OTC Foundation for providing me with this wonderful opportunity.

Dr. Rohit Luthra

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Joshua Schkrohowsky

GERMANY – Joshua Schkrohowsky from the USA was welcomed by the OTCFs Education Fellowship Center in Murnau, Germany for a two-week Fellowship in 2011 with Prof. V. Bühren.

 
I recently had the opportunity to visit Prof. Volker Bühren at the BGU Trauma Clinic in Murnau, Germany.  It was a great learning experience and also a wonderful time.
 
The moment I arrived, I was escorted off to Monday morning trauma board rounds.  I was impressed to see the number of physicians and all departments in attendance.  This created a cohesive plan of care for the new trauma patients.  After seeing the breadth of cases that came in over the weekend, I was introduced to the department.  Prof. Bühren then personally welcomed me and sent me off to work.   
 
During the next two weeks I would participate in a variety of cases, from open reduction internal fixation of unstable pelvic fractures to the staged reconstruction of a multiple-fractured near amputee.  But some of the greatest learning moments were on the simple cases.  Dr. Woltmann imparting his wisdom on how to avoid complications in calcaneal fracture surgical management.  Or some neat tricks on the stabilization of medial malleolus avulsion fractures.  Or doing a Dynamic Hip Screw with Prof. Bühren and learning the history of the procedure at the same time.
 
In addition, the clinic itself is incredible.  From the operating rooms to the physical therapy department, everything is set-up for efficiency and quality.  I would recommend a visit for anyone who is interested in seeing a hospital that has been so well thought out.  Prof. Bühren has done amazing work in creating the comprehensive trauma center that it is today.
 
Besides the experiences in the hospital, I enjoyed a pick-up game of soccer with the surgical staff; except for the large hematoma I received to the shin.  Note to future fellows: bring shin guards.  And the surrounding countryside is absolutely stunning.
 
I thank Prof. Bühren and Dr. Woltmann for their warm reception and teaching they provided.  I also would like to thank the OTC foundation for facilitating this great opportunity.  My only regrets are brevity of my visit and that I never climbed the Zugspitz.  I guess those are reason enough for another visit in the future.

Thanks you so much for setting this up.
Joshua Schkrohowsky

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Dinko Vidović, M.D.

 

FRANCE – Dr. Dinko Vidović, M.D. from Zagreb, Croatia was welcomed by the OTCFs Education Fellowship Center in Strasbourg, France for a two-week Fellowship in February 2011 with Dr. G. Taglang.  

With this letter I would like to thank the OTC Coordinators for having selected me for the fellowship program at the Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department at the University Hospital Strasbourg – Hautepierre.

I realized my fellowship program at this well-known center of  excellence during three weeks, with special attention to Intramedullary Nailing and External Fixation Techniques. On February 28, 2011, I came to Hautepierre Hospital where I was welcomed by Mrs. Margot Hamm, the AIOD representative, my administrative contact at the hospital as well as for any other activities related my fellowship program. She introduced me to Dr. Gilbert Taglang and the rest of the Traumatology team.

After meetings I was taken to the operating room where I spent the day observing many major surgeries, including two revision cases of Gamma nail, which was very interesting and educational. For this type of surgery, as for any other reconstructive procedures, Dr. Taglang and other the surgeons have very studios approach; including a precise pre-operative planning and radiology discussion.  They perform a lot of Intramedullary Nailings regularly for all types of fractures of long bones.  They very experienced with these techniques. I have learned a lot of tricks in nailing techniques particularly for pertrochnateric fractures and many of them, I have already applied in my hospital and modified our way of  employing surgical strategy regarding long Gamma nails.

I have benefited not only from their expertise in Intramedullary Locked Nails but also from many other procedures that the surgical team at Hautepiere employs such as: Hip and knee replacement, corrective osteotomies around knee, foot surgery, primary and secondary bone tumors, management of the polytraumatized patients including pelvic and spinal surgery. Regularly,  I was attending all the cases in the OR. I also attended daily staff meetings as well as all postoperative discussions of the complex cases. During my fellowship program I also had the opportunity to attend OTC course in Intramedullary Techniques including a workshop session held at the School of Anatomy. However, despite my busy schedule at the hospital, I still had enough time to see all the cultural attractions of the beautiful city of Strasbourg.

Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Taglang, professor Bonnomet and other colleagues from the Hautepierre Hospital, Margot Hamm and the OTC Foundation for this great opportunity, which allow me to improve my surgical skills and knowledge in Bone & Joint Surgery.

Thank you very much!

Dinko Vidović, M. D.

University Hospital „Sisters of Mercy“

Zagreb, Croatia