Abstract

VALLARTA-RODRIGUEZ, A.; MORALES-OLIVERA, J.M.  and  DUARTE Y SANCHEZ, A.. Plastic surgery and its humanitarian labor in Mexico. Cir. plást. iberolatinoam. [online]. 2015, vol.41, n.4, pp.457-467. ISSN 1989-2055.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0376-78922015000400014.

Most of the public health investment in Mexico is destined to the prevention and treatment of the principal mortality causes: circulatory diseases, metabolic disorders and neoplasms. Therefore, people with low socio-economic resources don´t have the accessibility to medical attention in case of present a congenital abnormality, postburn or cancer sequelae. In consequence, since more than 50 years ago, extramural surgery campaigns started working. Then in 2012 a Foundation to the Assistance and Investigation in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was created (Fundación para la Asistencia e Investigación en Cirugía Plástica y Reconstructiva A. C FUNCIPLAS). Its general purpose was to help the most affected sector of mexican population. In coordination with other social groups, the aims of FUNCIPLAS was to perform Extramural Surgery Campaigns in different states of the country with the participation of plastic reconstructive surgeons and residents of this specialty, anesthesiologist and nursing personal. Since 2013 to 2015, 10 campaigns were performed in diverse cities of Mexico. A total of 784 patients were clinically evaluated and 439 were operated. In global numbers, 774 procedures were performed, 52,5% were congenital abnormalities; 16,4% postburn sequelae; 15,76% cancer sequelae; and 15,5% trauma sequelae in face or limbs. The clinical care for people with diseases related to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is not enough in a country with almost 120 million inhabitants. Furthermore, the educational deficit and poverty aggravate the situation and we have as a result people with aestheticfunctional alteration and with social stigma. FUNCIPLAS emerges as a nonprofit association and as a support alternative to the most vulnerable people in Mexico. For several decades, it has fostered a greater altruism in the surgical area. Today the humanitarian contribution of Plastic Surgery in Mexico is a reality.

Keywords : Plastic Surgery; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Congenital abnormalities; Burns; Breast cancer.

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