ABOUT
The Orthopaedic Limb Reconstruction Fellowship is a new and innovative sub-specialist fellowship, which is the first of its kind in Canada. Lower limb reconstruction surgery involves a wide range of specific skills and techniques which require a thorough understanding of the implications of growth and deformity of the growing skeleton. This fellowship provides the fellows with a total of 1 year exposure to paediatric limb deformity. The lower limb reconstruction case load of BC Children’s hospital is the busiest in Canada and as such would provide a unique opportunity upon completion of the fellowship to pursue an independent practice in complex lower limb deformity and reconstruction surgery.
The fellow would work within a multidisciplinary team comprising specialist physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurse practitioner and experienced OR nursing staff. The fellow will also have the opportunity to work on research projects as part of the multidisciplinary Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction research program. During this 1 year fellowship, the fellow will acquire an advanced knowledge base in paediatric limb deformity, advanced diagnostic clinical skills and use of diagnostic imaging within paediatric limb deformity orthopaedics, advanced skills in surgical judgement, planning and techniques, and research, administrative and program management skills.
For more information, please contact Dr. Anthony Cooper at externalfixators@cw.bc.ca
CURRENT FELLOWS
MOHAMMED ALOTAIBI MD
GOURAV JANDIAL MD
EMMANUEL MURWANASHYAKA MD
PAST FELLOWS
NJALALLE BARAZA MD
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Njalalle (Jal) is from Kenya, East Africa and completed his medical and orthopaedic training in the UK before coming to Vancouver in 2017 for a sports fellowship. During his time with the Walk Tall team, Jal is specifically looking at the health-related quality of life of children with Fibular Hemimelia. He also has experience from working in Kenya for a couple of years, which allowed him to realize the need for a specialist paediatric orthopaedic surgeon in Nairobi.
MASHAEL MUWANIS MD
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Mashael was born and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and earned her medical degree from King Abdulaziz University. During her time with the Walk Tall team, Mashael is specifically looking at pin site care and factors affecting the rate of pin site infections in children undergoing limb reconstruction surgery using an external fixator device. In 2014 she was awarded a master degree in advance studies; clinical research (MAS) from the University of California in San Diego. In 2019 she completed her orthopaedics residency training at McGill University, Montreal, QC. Her areas of interests are; Cerebral palsy, arthrogryposis and deformity correction.
Mashael was a fellow with the Walk Tall team until August 2022.
JUDITH NASSAAZI M.MED ORTH
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Judith is from from Uganda and concluded her masters degree in orthopaedic surgery at Makerere University. She is currently volunteering at a children’s orthopaedic hospital, and is very passionate about paediatric orthopaedics. During her time at Walktall, she will be looking into the management of tibiofibular joints in children undergoing tibial lengthening surgeries.
Judith was a fellow with the Walk Tall team until August 2022.
Interviewing Dr. Juergen Messner
Dr. Juergen Messner is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and was the first fellow at the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Program. He now has his own practice in Edinburgh, Scotland and is the first in the UK to use the Orthex Frame as studied with Dr. Cooper.
Q: Why did you choose to complete your fellowship here?
A: I was introduced to Dr. Cooper by my previous supervisor who worked alongside him in the UK. I was very interested in Dr. Cooper’s work and the way he independently provided orthopaedic care for Vancouver’s enormous population as 2 of 5 Canadian orthopaedic surgeons. He was in a position I wanted to be in when setting up my own practice back home.
Q: What was it like to work with the team?
A: Vancouver is amazing, and it is different from the UK in terms of an individual’s independence. Here, the job hierarchy is less pronounced, and you have a lot freedom to explore your own interests. It was rewarding to work in a team with international experience and bright ideas which flourish in a ‘yes culture’.
I really appreciated how I was able to connect with surgeons that specialize in the hip, spine, clubfoot and more while focusing on limb reconstruction. It was a very personal experience with exceptional coworkers that maximized what I could gain from the fellowship.
Q: What did you learn and accomplish during your time here?
A: There were so many valuable skills I was able to obtain. I picked up the techniques of exceptional surgeons including the incredible Dr. Chris Reilly. I now use them in my own procedures and they work wonderfully.
One of the most crucial aspects of a fellowship is that it teaches you how to manage your practice and clinics; which you don’t need to do during residency. Dr. Cooper has a highly organized MDT system combining research, clinic, and charity which I draw great inspiration from today.
In terms of academic achievement I published a paper comparing the Taylor Spatial Frame to the new Orthex Hexapod System used by Dr. Cooper. It was a highly anticipated article as people around the world have been waiting for the first clinical results of this novel technology. After its’ recent approval for use in the UK, I will be the frontrunner and first in Europe to use the Orthex frame, with huge thanks to my fellowship here.
Q: Do you have any advice for future fellows?
A: There is a lot of paperwork involved in the process of coming to Canada that will take 3-4 months to complete. I’ve also created a short guide for international fellows coming to Vancouver; feel free to read it here!