The human body has more than 200 bones that, joined together, form a perfect gear. When one of them is damaged, so is our organism. This causes a deterioration in the quality of life, especially for those people who cannot access excellent health care services. 

The Cuban health system has boosted research in this field of medicine, on updated scientific bases, of high international competence and with palpable applications such as arthroscopy, external fixators, sports traumatology and research on osteoporosis, hip fractures in the elderly or coxarthrosis in the hip. 

Much of these innovative treatments are due to Dr. Rodrigo Alvarez Cambras. The renowned Cuban orthopedic surgeon, scientist and educator contributed to the improvement of orthopedic and traumatology techniques and promoted the creation of the world-renowned Cuban School of Orthopedics and Traumatology. 

Nine surgical techniques bear his name, among them ligamentoplasties for ankle instabilities due to chronic ligament injuries, both of medial ligaments and lateral ankle ligaments.
Spine surgery is one of the leading services offered by Cuban orthopedics, which has highly qualified professionals, and a program designed to think only about the welfare and health of patients. 

Dr. Ernesto Fleites Marrero, a specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology at the Cira Garcia Central Clinic, explains to Destino Salud that “the same techniques and implements are used in Cuba as in the rest of the world. We perform all types of spine surgery, from minimally invasive procedures such as the treatment of herniated discs by endoscopy, to more complicated and advanced ones such as spinal fusions, scoliosis in children and adults, spine approach (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)”.

Among the main strengths of the program, which is developed throughout the country, the experience of the medical teams that perform the surgeries and other treatments, as well as the use of science and technology in each of the steps to be followed, stand out.

When referring to the ages of the patients and the most common surgeries, Dr. Fleites states that these are performed on people of any age. “At the William Soler Pediatric Hospital, where our team works together with theirs, what we see most often are scoliosis in childhood, whether associated or not with genetic syndromes and congenital anomalies. 

“In this case, both at early ages and in adolescence, there is good experience in the treatment of severe scoliosis,” Dr. Fleites emphasizes. “The professionals at the William Soler Pediatric Hospital form a very well-prepared group where pediatricians, anesthesiologists, intensivists and nurses specialized in this surgery converge. 

“In adults, what we receive most at the clinic are patients with degenerative diseases and osteoarthritis with disc herniation, a subject that is becoming very important in the world because the older adults of today are not the same as those of the past, they continue to live an intense life, they play sports and, therefore, they prefer to have surgery and not to stay at home quietly. The rest of the surgery is occasional, that is, trauma associated with accidents”.

The Frank País International Orthopedic Scientific Complex, created in 1969, is one of the leading centers in orthopedic treatments. As in other health establishments, arthroplasty (replacement of a joint by mechanical means) and arthroscopy (a technique that allows direct observation of the inside of the joints without opening them and treating injuries) of hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, etc. are performed at the center. .... 

Dr. Roberto González Martín, general director of this institution, comments that “we not only operate on traumatisms, fractures, but also on degenerative problems related to herniated discs and other ailments”. 

However, what do you have to do to access these programs and receive quality specialized care, and how long do the procedures take? 

Dr. Osvaldo Héctor Ardisana, specialist of the Coordination and Processing Center of the Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos S. A. points out that “to subscribe to these services, people should contact the Center at the e-mail address: smc@smcsalud.cu.

Likewise, the process of requesting medical attention can be made directly to the Coordination Center by telephone, through the web, and from specialized facilitating agencies, with which the CSMC has working relations with a presence in 45 countries”.

The specialist assures that “we have no waiting lists or delays. As long as the clients are interested and receive a response, they can come and receive the treatment and change their quality of life.

However, regardless of the way the patient chooses to travel, the therapy is the same for everyone. 

“We offer them, if they are eligible, since their conditions do not always require surgery, a medical program with all the steps to be followed, the tests to be performed, the days they are going to be in Cuba and the price, among other issues,” Dr. Osvaldo Héctor Ardisana clarifies. 

“Thinking about the patients implies, sometimes, saying no. They don't always take surgeries. They do not always undergo surgery, so what we propose is a rehabilitation program. In case they are operated, our interest is that they return to their country and get back to their daily life. That is why when they return to their country, we give them a summary with all the results of the laboratory tests, X-rays and the disks with the resonance images (before and after the operation) so that their doctor can follow them up. 

Furthermore, once the patient returns home, should they need to consult with the physician who assisted them, Cuba offers the possibility of accessing Telemedicine services in real time.

By: Yanel Blanco Miranda and Beatriz Vaillant Rodríguez 
Taken from:  Destino Salud Magazine