A Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM, Professor Oladipo Adewole, has called for the establishment of a tiered trauma system in Lagos State and the expansion of subspecialty orthopedic training at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH to improve emergency care and patient outcomes.
Adewole made the recommendation while delivering the 125th Inaugural Lecture of Lagos State University, titled “From Limping Steps to Confident Strides: A Journey of an Academic Orthopedic Surgeon.”
The professor described trauma as a major public health challenge in Nigeria, stressing the need for a coordinated trauma care system to reduce preventable deaths and disabilities.
He proposed the creation of a Lagos State Trauma System Authority under the Ministry of Health to oversee a tiered trauma network, comprising one Level I trauma centre at LASUTH, one Level II centre in each senatorial district, one Level III centre in every local government area and one functional Level IV centre in each Local Council Development Area (LCDA), supported by formal referral and inter-hospital transfer protocols.
Adewole also called for the revitalisation of the Lagos State Limb Deformity Correction Programme, recommending routine school screening to identify children with limb deformities for early referral and treatment.
He urged the state government to include calcium-rich meals in school feeding programmes to help prevent osteoporosis and improve bone health, while advocating health insurance coverage for limb deformity correction surgeries under the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, Ilera Eko.
The orthopedic surgeon further recommended institutionalising subspecialty orthopedic training at LASUTH to strengthen specialist manpower and improve healthcare delivery.
During the lecture, Adewole reviewed advances in the treatment of congenital clubfoot, limb deformity correction, limb reconstruction, arthritis, spinal disorders, rickets and osteoporosis, noting that the Ponseti method has significantly improved outcomes for children born with clubfoot.
He also highlighted the progress made in hip and knee replacement surgeries at LASUTH, describing them as life-changing procedures that have restored mobility and improved the quality of life of many patients.
Calling for more research, the professor urged greater investment in studies on osteoporosis and the long-term outcomes of clubfoot treatment to strengthen evidence-based orthopedic care.
Reflecting on his academic journey, Adewole said orthopedic surgery is not only about treating physical conditions but also about restoring dignity, independence and hope to patients.
He also highlighted his contributions to medical education, including co-authoring orthopedic surgery textbooks, leading the accreditation of LASUTH’s residency programme, mentoring orthopedic specialists, and serving as Chairman of the Faculty of Orthopaedics of the West African College of Surgeons, where he continues to promote specialist training and support the development of future orthopedic surgeons.