Albania is one of the poorest countries in Western European with a GDP per capita standing at 26 percent of the EU average in 2010. Whilst there is government-funded universal free provision of healthcare, it is accepted that delivery is patchy, not accessible to all and lacking expertise for more complex paediatric orthopaedic conditions. With the sponsorship of a UK-based charity, we have set up and completed 5 visits to Albania (3 assessment and 2 operative) to provide additional expertise for paediatric orthopaedic disorders running parallel to and utilising currently available local services. We present the results of this treatment and training programme to date. Between 2008 and 2011, we assessed 204 children and adolescents with paediatric orthopaedic disorders in Tirana and Durres on 3 separate visits. Of these, 28 were listed for surgical procedures whilst the rest were treated non-operatively. Of the listed patients, 14 patients underwent surgical intervention (total of 18 procedures).Introduction
Patients and methods
