CSC Surgical Program

CSC works in the Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Center, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A rugged, highly functional, surgical unit is housed within a compound of buildings loaned by the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSAVY) and co-operates with the other rehabilitation organizations in the compound.

At CSC, patients are divided into two types: eye patients, and non-eye patients, and are segregated into 2 separate areas where they are seen by doctors working in the ophthalmology department, or the general rehabilitation department. Both departments work independently, but combine to care for patients who need the services of both. All staff are Khmer, with the exception of two full time expatriates and visiting expatriate volunteer surgeons, health workers and medical students. Expatriate volunteers provide training to local staff in order to ensure the self sustainability of the centre in the future.

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Around 5000 rehabilitative surgical procedures are performed per year at CSC and this number is increasing annually.

The main fields of surgery are as follows:

Orthopedic Surgery

  • Revision of painful or disabling amputation stumps from landmine injuries.
  • Correction of deformities from polio and other infectious diseases.
  • Surgery on Club feet and other congenital anomalies.
  • Treatment of chronic dislocations, malunited fractures and nonunions of fractures.
  • Hip replacements and Spinal surgery for various conditions.

Plastic Surgery

  • Treatment of unhealed burn wounds with skin grafts and flaps
  • Release of burn contractures.
  • A wide variety of other procedures to diminish disability and to improve appearance and function

Maxillofacial Surgery

  • Cleft lip and palate repairs
  • Facial reconstruction for fractures and traumatic defects
  • Resection arthroplasty of temporo-mandibular joints (TMJs)
  • Corrections of deformities caused by severe infections such as noma
  • Head and neck tumours

Eye Surgery

  • Cataract surgery
  • Excision of pterygia
  • Correction of lid deformities and other Oculoplastic surgery
  • Corrections of squints and other paediatric abnormalities
  • Laser and retinal surgery
  • Provision of glasses, Fitting of artificial eyes, and school screenings

Anaesthesia

  • Local, regional, spinal and general anaesthesia
  • Endoscopic intubation
  • Paediatric and adult anaesthesia