As Americans, many of us are privileged enough to get early intervention after a nerve laceration. There are some countries, however, that are not as fortunate as the United States. Machete injuries may not be very common in the US, but in Nigeria, Haiti and Nicaragua, there is a high incidence occurring from accidents and assaults. Most of the injuries result in lacerations of the upper extremity and involve the peripheral nerves. After experiencing the aftereffects of machete injuries in Nicaragua, the treatment of these injuries differs from what I usually see in my clinic with early intervention.
Early identification of a nerve laceration is the key to a successful recovery. Most of the clients we saw in Nicaragua had lacerations years earlier and presented with contractures of the hand. The most commonly experienced was the ulnar nerve with classic ulnar claw deformity. At that point, the treatment plan was more for function and compensation than recovery. Even in the US, if there were a late repair or tendon transfer, you would see those patients in therapy for prolonged periods to maximize recovery. In Nicaragua, most do not have that option. It makes you thankful we have access for early identification and treatment for peripheral nerve injuries.
I had the pleasure to travel with Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) in 2010. I chose this trip due to its proximity/decreased travel time. It was hard for me to leave my home and work responsibilities for any prolonged period. I also agreed with their values of emphasizing education to the locals to help carry on your expertise. It was a great trip and a good way to get introduced to international volunteering. I would like to volunteer again once my kids are more independent.