The Dawn of the Burundian Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journey

BACKGROUND: Burundi is a landlocked country in the Eastern part of Africa with less than 100 qualified surgeons for a population of about 14 million. Until December 2024, no plastic surgeon was available in the country. The main objective of this work was to establish the state of the practice environment at one of the main public hospitals in the country, highlight the main challenges and advocating for ways to reach higher standard and equitable reconstructive care for all. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study at one tertiary level referral hospital in Bujumbura. We analyzed the total patient load requiring reconstructive surgical care, operating room time, availability of surgical instruments, and reasons for surgical operating room delay. RESULTS: Data collection is ongoing; however, preliminary findings demonstrate that about 30% of the surgical patients in the wards required immediate reconstructive surgical care, with pressure sores being the most common pathology. One day of operating room time per week is allocated for elective procedures. There is a lack of appropriate instruments and consumables to perform many reconstructive surgeries. Additionally, insufficient funding remains a major barrier, resulting in surgery postponements. CONCLUSION: Accessible and high-quality plastic and reconstructive surgical care to Burundians remains in its early stages and is has numerous challenges. Targeted strategies can help achieve equity for all.