Prestigious Spanish orthopedic doctor Francisco Soldado privileges Cuba with his experience

Havana, April 13 (RHC) - The Spanish specialist in pediatric upper extremity and microsurgery, Dr. Francisco Soldado, is in Cuba for surgical interventions on minors suffering from obstetric brachial palsy, based on extensive experience in this ailment.

His objective is to exchange knowledge about this ailment to which the First Brachial Plexus Surgical Conference is dedicated from April 9 to 15 at the William Soler Hospital, in Havana. The conference includes evaluation consultations, surgical interventions and scientific conferences on pediatric nerve microsurgery.

Soldado expressed his satisfaction at traveling to Havana to share and train specialists in Orthopedics and Traumatology, thus opening up a path of collaboration.

Soldier explained that obstetric brachial palsy is damage caused during childbirth, generally of macro fetuses, during which the nerves of the arm that are born in the neck are stretched, and this causes loss of mobility, that is, paralysis of the arm at be born.

The medical literature defines it as a lesion of the peripheral nerves, specifically of the brachial plexus, which consists of the loss of mobility or sensation in the upper limb (arm, forearm or hand) of a newborn.

In relation to the causes, the books mention shoulder dystocia (difficulty in the spontaneous delivery of the shoulders, which requires additional obstetric maneuvers to produce fetal expulsion after delivery of the head) and prolonged labor. They also include maneuvers used to release the shoulders during labor, instrumental vaginal deliveries using forceps or spatulas, and mispositioning of the fetus.

Based on evaluation and classification consultations with Cuban specialists, the doctor pointed out that the prevalence of these paralyzes in the country, as in most nations with similar obstetric techniques, is one in every thousand newborns, of which 30 percent need surgery to improve the functionality of the affected limb.

Referring to the effectiveness of microsurgery to restore damage at birth, Soldado explained that the percentage of recovery depends on the type of obstetric brachial palsy.

If it is partial, it is possible for the child's upper limb to be functional with a certain level of movement necessary for their daily physical activities, it is impossible to fully normalize it; if the paralysis is more serious, with the injured plexus the operation is palliative, "but it is better to operate than not to do it," he assured.

He clarified that after nerve microsurgery, another of the tendons can be performed to add movement. On the validity of applying physiotherapy, he specified that it allows to keep the joints mobile and flaccid, but it does not stimulate nerve regeneration.

Dr. Soldado is a traumatologist and orthopedic surgeon, an expert in the brachial plexus and malformations, as well as other pathologies of the upper extremities, such as malformations, cerebral palsy, sequelae of fractures and arthrogryposis.

He completed his specialized training in upper extremity and pediatric microsurgery in Philadelphia, United States, and has completed numerous international training courses in various countries.

Among his achievements, the publication of more than 120 international articles related to clinical practice, research and teaching activity stands out.

Soldier is also the leader of a non-profit foundation that carries out solidarity missions for general surgery of the child's upper extremities, especially obstetric brachial palsy, and also malformations, cerebral palsy and fracture sequelae. With this objective, he makes about eight visits per year to Vietnam, Peru, Colombia and Morocco, and to other countries that request his surgical services and to exchange knowledge.

The Cuban specialists in Orthopedics and Traumatology José Antonio Oruet, Dachel Cañizares and Eduardo Albisu agreed that the presence of Dr. Soldado in Cuba is a great opportunity and an honor to share with him.

They stressed that his visit will give a great boost to primary brachial plexus surgery in the country, an intervention that is rescued because it involves complex techniques that do not have many trained personnel. (Source: Prensa Latina)