OUR IMPACT
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Changing Lives
“If all of my patients, friends, and other people in America could just see how sad it is for many of the people in these developing countries, I think they would get much more excited about Operation Walk Denver. They live under terrible conditions, with severe pain, and they have not walked normally without pain, often for periods of 15 or 20 years. If they lived in America, they would have had their total knee or hip replacement performed decades before, and are therefore so grateful for the care we give.” Dr. Douglas A. Dennis, Executive Director |
Founder of Operation Walk Denver, Dr. Douglas Dennis
Receives Prestigious Lawrence Dorr Humanitarian Award
Receives Prestigious Lawrence Dorr Humanitarian Award
WHY WE'RE HERE
Operation Walk is an all-volunteer non-profit medical humanitarian organization that provides the gift of mobility through life change joint replacement surgeries at no cost to the poorest of the poor in developing countries. (or to those in need, both globally and a select few in the United States.) Our patients, suffering from debilitating bone and joint conditions, have no access to life-improving care. |
THE PROCEDURES
Operation Walk performs hip and knee replacements, both very complex surgeries that require skilled medical talent and a team of 40-60 medical volunteers. |
THE PROCESS
Operation Walk Denver works side by side with local orthopedic surgeons, who provide initial consultation of potential patients to confirm their eligibility for total hip or total knee replacement surgeries. The local team works side by side with our doctors, nurses and therapists during our visits. They provide the essential follow up care for patients after the procedures are complete. |
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Prior to a trip, these medical professionals screen, evaluate and take x-rays of potential surgical candidates. The test results and patient x-rays are sent to Operation Walk Denver team members months before a trip. This enables the Denver team to plan and assemble appropriate supplies, including specific sizes of joint implants. Then, the massive logistical task of coordinating schedules, surgical supplies and transportation begins. Approximately eight tons of supplies are shipped in advance to the selected region for each one-week mission trip.
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Once in the host country, team leader Dr. Dennis sets up four complete surgical teams, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, interns, physician assistants, physical therapists and other volunteers. Local surgeons, doctors and nurses are all invited to join in the operating room and subsequently receive training on the recovery floor. All surgeries are performed during the first few days of the trip to ensure Operation Walk doctors are on hand to monitor outcomes and treat any complications. The surgical procedure involves pre-operative patient education, a two to four day stay in the hospital and typically several weeks of physical therapy.
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Rehabilitation is the focus of the latter part of the week. Physical therapists conduct classes for patients and their families in which they teach and demonstrate safe techniques for walking and going up and down stairs. Local physical therapists are trained to continue the healing process for these patients long after the Operation Walk team returns to the United States.
