Humanitarian Mission in India

Dr. Karl Schuhmann, Chief Physician of the Department of Plastic/Aesthetic Surgery & Hand Surgery at the Evangelisches Krankenhaus Hattingen, operated once again in February 2019 for two weeks with the organisation Interplast at the Vagus Hospital in Bangalore, India. As in previous years, the plastic surgeon once again placed his expertise in the service of humanitarian aid.

True to a passage of the Hippocratic Oath: "I will share my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and to improve healthcare," he set off with a team of 10 to India once again, to provide free treatment to people who would otherwise be unable to afford such medical care.

"We had three plastic surgeons," Dr. Schuhmann recounts, "as well as a maxillofacial surgeon, three anaesthetists, a general surgeon, a junior doctor, and a scrub nurse on site." All the medical professionals used their own annual leave for this humanitarian mission in the south of India, operating primarily on burn sequelae, hand malformations, and cleft lip and palate conditions.

The largest proportion of operations performed were scar contractures, which were corrected by skin grafting. These injuries, caused by severe burns, are frequently seen in India, as people in many areas still cook over open fires. Severe burns also commonly occur on the hands. "Through our hand surgery, we can enable some people to finally use their hands again," says Dr. Schuhmann.

Scar contractures occur when scar tissue shrinks and hardens during the healing process. They frequently arise following major injuries, burns, or inflammatory conditions. The scars are irregular and cause problems, often including functional limitations such as reduced mobility of a limb. This is particularly the case when the scars are located in the region of a joint. "Many people in India have suffered severe burns," the physician explains. "As a result of these burns, limbs are severely restricted in movement due to the shrinkage and scarring of the skin. By transplanting healthy skin to the burned areas, function of the body parts is restored." The team operated primarily on scar contractures through skin grafting at the neck, axilla, arm, hand, and groin. These were not aesthetic procedures, but rather the restoration of bodily function, in order to give patients less pain and greater freedom of movement. "Some patients we were able to operate on for the second time this year, achieving a considerable improvement in their condition," Dr. Schuhmann reported.

Schuhmann and the Interplast Stuttgart/Münster section team treated 80 patients in Bangalore and performed more than 100 operations in 12 days. "Without the active support of the Friends Welfare Organisation on the ground and the financial resources provided through donations to Interplast Germany e.V., our missions would not be possible," the physician states. "The mission was once again optimally organised and the team highly professional. It is a pleasure to operate in such conditions, and one can be certain that the help reaches exactly where it is urgently needed," says Dr. Schuhmann. These humanitarian missions are close to Dr. Schuhmann's heart, for which he takes time and annual leave each year. "Plastic surgery is for me considerably more than pure cosmetic surgery," the physician affirms. This becomes abundantly clear during his missions in India. There it is not about aesthetic procedures, but about helping people who have been severely disfigured by burns or acid attacks, and who must endure extreme restrictions in movement and pain, and giving them renewed hope.

Dr. Schuhmann intends to continue his commitment to humanitarian aid in the years to come as well.

A selfie with the doctor out of joy over the help received: time and again, patients wish to take a photo together with Dr. Karl Schuhmann after their treatment.

The Full Interview

In the in-depth interview with the Düsseldorfer Anzeiger, Dr. Schuhmann speaks about his motivation, the challenges on the ground, and moving experiences with his patients. He also talks about his district of Oberkassel and his work in Düsseldorf.

Plastic Surgery is More Than Cosmetic Surgery

"I see my work for the people of India as a kind of donation. And in my opinion, this is the most effective way to donate – the help reaches the person directly. I am donating my time and my skills."