About the Department
The Department of Orthopedics and Trauma at the University of Gondar was established in October 2019 with three founding staff members: Dr. Mohammed Kedir, Dr. Ananiya Kassahun (Head at the time of establishment), and Dr. Muhammad Yesuf.
The department was founded with the vision of building a strong orthopedic training and clinical service hub for Northwestern Ethiopia.
Staff and Training
Currently, the department has:
- 8 Orthopedic Surgeons
- 18 Orthopedic Residents under training
- Two academic General Practitioners (GPs)
- Two clinical GPs
- Several trained nursing staff supporting patient care and ward management.
The department serves as an important training center for future orthopedic specialists while also delivering specialized orthopedic and trauma care to the community.
Clinical Services
The department operates with:
- 80 inpatient beds for orthopedic and trauma admissions
- A well-organized Emergency Orthopedic OPD
- A Regular Orthopedic OPD that provides services on weekdays
The patient flow to the department is very high, reflecting the growing need for orthopedic and trauma services in the region.
Graduates
Since its establishment, the department has successfully graduated two cohorts of residents, producing six orthopedic and trauma surgeons who are currently serving in different health institutions across Ethiopia.
Clinical Activities (2023/2024 Audit)
According to the 2023/24 Clinical Audit, the department delivered extensive clinical services within one year:
Emergency Services
- More than 1,600 patients were treated in the Emergency OPD
- 300 patients were from the pediatric age group
- 1,450 fracture cases
- 150 infection and tumor cases
The most common causes of admission were:
- Bullet injuries (more than 60%)
- Road traffic accidents
- Stick injuries
Inpatient Care
- Over 1,200 patients were admitted to the orthopedic ward.
Surgical Procedures
- 1,100 major surgeries performed in the main Operating Room (OR)
- 400 procedures performed in the minor OR
Common procedures included:
- Irrigation and debridement – 550 cases
- Open reduction and internal fixation – 230 cases
- External fixation – 200 cases
- Intramedullary nailing – 210 cases
- Plaster of Paris application – 270 cases
Outpatient Services
More than 2,600 patients were managed at the regular OPD.
Common diagnoses included:
- Upper limb fractures – 700 cases
- Lower limb fractures – 1,200 cases
- Infections – 330 cases
- Tumors – 80 cases
- Miscellaneous conditions – 400 cases
Prosthesis and Orthosis Services
In the past year, the department has expanded its services to include prosthesis and orthosis support.
Approximately 100 patients have benefited from prosthetic and orthotic services, significantly improving mobility and quality of life.
The department has also successfully managed mass casualty incidents resulting from conflicts and road traffic accidents.
Future Subspecialty Plans
The department plans to expand into orthopedic subspecialties.
By 2026–2027
- Microsurgery & Hand Reconstructive Surgery
- Arthroplasty Service
- Foot and Ankle Surgery
- Pediatric Orthopedics
By 2028
- Spine Orthopedics
Mission
To train competent orthopedic surgeons, deliver compassionate and high-quality patient care, and advance knowledge through clinical research and innovation, thereby reducing disability and improving the quality of life in our communities.
Vision
To become a center of excellence in orthopedic and trauma care, education, and research in Ethiopia and East Africa, recognized for subspecialty services, innovation, and community impact.
- Yeab Mulat Mesfin(M.D, Assistant Professor of orthopedics and traumatology )
- +251
- mulat.yeab19@yahoo.com
- Head of the department of orthopedics and traumatology.