BFIRST sponsors delegates at Ganga online course

06 August 2020 by Emma Brighton

This year’s Ganga Hand operative Course took place in Coimbatore, India from 11-12 July. Due to the Corona Pandemic it was arranged online. There was the live session by the ‘Microsoft team’ and recorded sessions were then available for the next 7 days on the Microsoft stream app. I had an opportunity to participate in this prestigious programme as a BFIRST sponsored candidate.

As a Plastic Surgery resident, I had heard about the Ganga hospital and their educational programmes and faculties but did not get a chance to participate in them. On this occasion, I not only had the opportunity to observe the commonly practiced flaps like groin flap or SIEA flap, but also the less commonly performed nail bed transfers or difficult muscle transfer procedures. Free flap, tendon repair, tendon transfer, nerve grafting, and release of syndactyly are just some of the interesting procedures that were demonstrated on this course with minute detailing and practical tips. A total of 20 cases of hand surgery were demonstrated in this short span of 2 days.

As a new plastic surgeon this experience helped me a lot to open my vision about the scopes and possibilities of hand surgery in my country. I would like to thank BFIRST from the core of my heart for giving me the opportunity to avail this lifetime experience.

Md. Toriqul Islam – Assistant Registrar, Plastic Surgery, Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Dhaka, Bangladesh.

I feel very fortunate to participate in the 2020 Ganga Hand and Microsurgery Operative Course as a plastic surgery resident from Bangladesh, sponsored by BFIRST.

Ganga medical centre and hospitals, India is a renowned centre and every year plastic surgery fellows from our country go there for courses and training.

This year’s course took place on 11-12th july and was online, live streamed by Microsoft teams.

About 20 surgeries were performed within 2 days by 3 surgeons. Most remarkable and new for me were nerve transfer, tendon transfer and muscle transfer procedures for brachial plexus injuries.

Excision of nail bed cyst, management of proximal phalanx fracture, zimmer splint technique,trigger thumb,release of syndactyly, groin flap,abdominal flap, opponensplasty, extensor tendon reconstruction by TFL, extremely difficult post burn scar contracture of fingers,finger replantation and ALT Free flap, all kind of surgeries were done.

The best thing I liked was they explained all the procedures in very detail which was very helpful for me. They answered all the questions very nicely.

I am ever grateful to BFIRST for providing me this huge opportunity. It has widened my view and perception about beauty of hand surgery, especially brachial plexus injuries and inspired me to learn further.

Mostakim Maria