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INTRODUCTION: Despite efforts to advance clinical research through collaboration between Latin and North American partners, there remains persistent barriers to performing investigative work. To overcome these obstacles, a team of over 100 surgeon-leaders from 18 Latin American countries founded the Asociación de Cirujanos Traumatólogos de las Américas (ACTUAR). One of ACTUAR's first major collaborative projects, initiated in 2018, was a prospective, observational, multicenter study evaluating quality of life after open tibia fracture management. The current study identified common barriers experienced during the initiation of this study, as exemplified through two sites in Mexico. The study aims to identify obstacles to proactively overcome these in future collaborative work. METHODS: Two research assistants from University of California, San Francisco and two research coordinators from Mexico were recruited to share their experiences, identify common barriers experienced during site enrollment and on-boarding for the ACTUAR open tibia study, and discuss possible solutions. RESULTS: Barriers were organized into three categories: structural, logistical, and intrapersonal. Structural barriers included differences in patient populations and resources between private and public hospitals. Logistical barriers included ambiguous ethical review processes, internet availability, and low patient follow-up. Primary enrollment as a resident responsibility led to some intrapersonal barriers. Potential solutions were identified for each barrier and agreed upon by all collaborators. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple barriers were identified by research personnel who initiated a prospective surgical clinical research study in Mexico. Through collaborative approaches, many potential solutions may help overcome these barriers and build locally led research capacity in Latin America.

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Background: Argentina is a country with varying access to orthopedic surgical care. The Argentine Association of Trauma and Orthopedics (AATO) "Interior Committee" was developed to address potential regional differences and promote standardization of orthopedic trauma care. The paper assesses the level of national standardization of the management of open tibia fractures across 9 provinces in Argentina. Methods: Utilizing a matched-comparison group design, management of these injuries were assessed and compared between 3 groups: an "AATO Exterior Committee" consisting of surgeons that practice in Buenos Aires, and 2 "Interior Committees," comprising surgeons that practice in outlying provinces, 1 of which is affiliated with the AATO, and 1 that is not affiliated with the AATO. The study was conducted in 2 phases: phase 1 assessed open tibia fracture management characteristics, and phase 2 evaluated the management of soft-tissue wound coverage following open fractures. Results: Soft-tissue coverage procedures for Gustilo Anderson Type IIIB fractures were more commonly performed by orthopedic surgeons in Interior Committees than the AATO Exterior Committee. Greater rates of definitive wound coverage within 7 days post-injury were reported in both Interior Committees compared to the Exterior Committee. Plastic surgeons were reported as more available to those in the AATO Exterior Committee group than in the AATO Interior Committees. Conclusion: While treatment patterns were evident among groups, differences were identified in the management and timing of soft-tissue coverage in Gustilo Anderson Type IIIB fractures between the Exterior Committee and both Interior Committees. Future targeted educational and surgical hands-on training opportunities that emphasize challenges faced in resource-limited settings may improve the management of open tibia fractures in Argentina.

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Introducción: Las fracturas abiertas de tibia son un subconjunto de la carga de traumatismos en América Latina. Se examinaron cuestiones relacionadas con el tratamiento potencialmente críticas en Cuba, país con recursos limitados, pero con un programa nacional de salud estandarizado, coherencia en educación y similitudes de programas de posgrado. Objetivos: Describir los patrones de tratamiento de la fractura abierta de tibia en Cuba, y comparar las características del manejo agudo y tardío en siete provincias del país. Métodos: Se encuestaron 67 cirujanos ortopédicos para evaluar cuatro aspectos en el tratamiento de la fractura abierta: profilaxis antibiótica, irrigación y desbridamiento, estabilización y tratamiento de heridas. Se utilizó el método de muestreo por conveniencia para identificar a los cirujanos y el análisis se realizó mediante la prueba exacta de Fisher (p < 0,05). Resultados: Se administraron antibióticos posoperatorios durante más de 72 horas para las fracturas GA-I/II (49 por ciento) y las fracturas GA-III (70 por ciento). Los cirujanos de La Habana (n= 32) utilizaron con más frecuencia la fijación interna primaria para las fracturas GA-I/II, que los cirujanos en las restantes provincias (n= 35) (64,3 porciento vs. 30,3 por ciento, p= 0,008). Los cirujanos de otras provincias realizaron cierre primario en el momento de la fijación definitiva de fracturas GA-I /II con más frecuencia que los de La Habana (62,9 por ciento vs. 32,3 por ciento, p= 0,013). Para fracturas GA-III, la mayoría de los cirujanos habaneros (88,6 %), al igual que los de las restantes provincias (96,8 por ciento) prefirieron realizar cierre diferido.Conclusiones: El tratamiento de fracturas abiertas de tibia en Cuba es generalmente consistente con otros países de América Latina. Se describen las características del manejo de fracturas abiertas de tibia en Cuba y se comparan las diferencias en los métodos de estabilización y tratamiento de heridas entre provincias, lo cual resulta útil para evaluar si son resultado de diferencias en la práctica quirúrgica, o en la disponibilidad de recursos. Esto representa una ayuda al abordar las formas de optimizar la atención al paciente, a través de la capacitación especializada y la asignación de los recursos(AU)

Introduction: Open tibia fractures are a significant subset of the overall trauma burden in Latin America. Latin American countries vary in their access to orthopaedic care resources, and country-specific orthopaedic recommendations are necessary. Cuba, a country with limited resources, has a standardized national health program, consistencies in education, and similarities across post-graduate training programs. This study aimed to identify management preferences for open tibia factures in Cuba. Objectives: To describe the treatment of open tibial fractures in Cuba, and to compare the characteristics of acute and delayed management across seven Cuban provinces. Methods: Sixty-seven orthopaedic surgeons were surveyed to evaluate four aspects of open fracture management, regarding antibiotic prophylaxis, irrigation and debridement, stabilization, and wound management. The convenience sampling method was used to identify surgeons and the analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test (p <0.05). Results: Postoperative antibiotics were administered for more than 72 hours for GA-I / II fractures (49 pecent) and GA-III fractures (70 percent). Surgeons in Havana (n = 32) used primary internal fixation for GA-I / II fractures more frequently than surgeons in the remaining provinces (n = 35) (64.3 pecent vs. 30.3 percent p = 0.008). Surgeons from other provinces performed primary closure at the time of definitive fixation of GA-I / II fractures more frequently than those from Havana (62.9 percent vs. 32.3 percent, p = 0.013). For GA-III fractures, the majority of Havana surgeons (88.6 percent), as well as those of the remaining provinces (96.8 percent) preferred to perform deferred closure. Conclusions: The treatment of open tibial fractures in Cuba is generally consistent with other Latin American countries. The characteristics of the management of open tibial fractures in Cuba are described and differences in wound stabilization and treatment methods between provinces are compared, which is useful to assess whether they are the result of differences in surgical practice, or in availability of resources. This is helpful in addressing ways to optimize patient care through specialized training and resource allocation(AU)

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BACKGROUND: An increasing number of traumatic injuries in low- and low-middle-income countries (LICs/LMICs) have coexisting injuries requiring soft-tissue coverage (flaps). Yet, there is a lack of subspecialty care and flap training in Latin America. This study assesses the effectiveness of a surgical skills training course in improving rotational and free flap knowledge and identifies barriers to performing these types of flaps. METHODS: Participants attending a surgical skills training course in Guadalajara, Mexico completed a pre/postcourse flaps knowledge survey consisting of 15 questions from the plastic surgery in-training examination and also completed a 7-point Likert survey regarding perceived barriers to performing flaps at their institution. RESULTS: Of the course participants, 17 (44.7%) completed the precourse knowledge survey, 24 (63.2%) completed the postcourse survey, and 37 (97.4%) completed the barriers survey. Scores improved from pre- to postcourse knowledge surveys (39.6% to 53.6%, P = .005). Plastic surgery subsection scores also improved (39.0% to 60.4%, P = .003). Twenty-five percent of attendees received prior flap training and had plastic surgeons available to perform flaps. Few participants (38.9%) reported flap procedures being commonly completed at their hospitals. Participants stating that flaps were uncommon in their hospital reported more institutional barriers and less access to dermatomes. These participants also reported lack of operating room and surgical personnel availability. CONCLUSION: A surgical skills training course may be useful in improving knowledge of soft-tissue coverage procedures. There are also modifiable physician and institutional barriers that can improve the ability to perform rotational and free flaps as identified by the course participants.