Robert R. Derkash, M.D.
Specializes in Hand Surgery
Associated with Aspen Orthopaedic Associates since 1981
Sees patients at our Glenwood office.
Medical Degree: University of Connecticut Health Sciences Center
Orthopaedic Residency: University Hospital of Cleveland, Ohio
Fellowship: Sterling Bunnell Hand Surgery, San Francisco, California
Board Certified: 1985, 1995 & 2005
Affiliations: American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons, Orthopaedics Overseas, Western Orthopaedic Association, International Knee Society, American Association for Surgery of the Hand, Colorado Medical Society
Special Interests: Surgery of the Upper Extremity, Total Joint Replacements
Cambodia Medical Exchange
Cambodia is a small country is Southeast Asia between Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. It is approximately the size of Missouri with a population nearing 15,000,000. The country is extremely poor and has been at war for the better part of 100 years, first with France, followed by the United States, and last with the regime of Pol Pot in the early 1970s. Cambodians live 50 years on average, and their literacy rate is approximately 40%. During the reign of Pol Pot, approximately 15% of the population was tortured and killed—a significant number of the country’s educated population. Due to the extensive amount of land mines after the Vietnam War, there were an extensive amount of amputees requiring amputation revisions and prosthetic application.
The Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope was opened in 1996 in Pnom Phen, Cambodia, to treat the indigent members of this population. On average, Sihanouk sees thousands patients per year. Today, the hospital hosts several residents in internal medicine, general surgery, and orthopaedic surgery. In addition, several volunteer orthopaedic surgeons spend 2 to 4 weeks at a time lecturing and assisting in surgery. Approximately 8 years ago, I was fortunate to join the ranks of these volunteer physicians and I found my time at Sihanouk to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
I was challenged by cases not often seen in the United States. Most of the orthopaedic problems are neglected trauma, infections, or congenital abnormalities. For example, I treated Tan Sophea, a 20-year-old man who fell from a tree, sustained a posterior dislocation of the left elbow 2 months before presenting to Sihanouk. At the time of injury, he was treated by the local bone healer with a splint in extension until the pain subsided. Eventually, he could not bend the elbow at all. Finally, he came to Sihanouk Hospital where he waited 3 days before he could be seen. X-rays showed an obvious posterior dislocation. He was taken to surgery and, with great difficulty, the fracture was reduced. He now has a more functional position of the elbow, but with limited motion. He was extremely pleased with his care, which enabled him to better support his wife and three children.
Cambodians are proud, smiling people who are profoundly grateful for anything that you do for them. Every time I volunteer, I learn something about life from them. They have very few material possessions, but they are happy and enjoy living. Since my first experience 8 years ago, I make a point to volunteer every year or two. Now, I am the director and volunteer coordinator for the program in Pnom Phen, Cambodia. There are several volunteer positions available in physical therapy, anesthesia, emergency room, internal medicine, and orthopedics. Volunteers are supervised through Health Volunteers in Washington, D.C. More information can be found at www.hvousa.org.
