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Last edited by
UtherSRG (
talk |
contribs) 2 seconds ago. (
Update) |
SIGN Fracture Care International | |
 | |
| Nickname | SIGN |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 29, 1999 |
| Founder | Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle, Jr., President |
| Type |
Non-Profit Organization 501(c)(3) |
| 91-1952283 | |
| Purpose | Building orthopaedic capacity in LMIC by providing orthopaedic education and medical device design, manufacture, and donation of implants. |
| Headquarters | Richland, Washington, U.S. |
Region | Global |
Chief Executive Officer | Jeanne Dillner |
Budget (2022) | US$ 8,340,000 |
Revenue (2022) | US$ 7,838,000 |
| Expenses (2022) | US$ 8,534,000 |
Staff (2023) | 41 |
| Website | https://signfracturecare.org |
Formerly called | Surgical Implant Generation Network |
Overview
SIGN Fracture Care (SIGN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization equipping orthopaedic surgeons in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). It was founded in 1999 by Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle, Jr. to help surgeons care for patients with a fractured long bone.
SIGN’s vision is to create equality of fracture care throughout the world. [1]
SIGN empowers doctors in impoverished countries to improve the quality of care they can provide for patients with bone fractures. The SIGN Model is to provide ongoing educational support for LMIC surgeons, then donate the orthopaedic instruments and implants the surgeons need to care for patients with broken bones.
SIGN’s founder invented and patented a system of orthopaedic instruments and implants designed for use in low-resource hospitals.
After his experiences working and volunteering in Vietnam and Indonesia, he recognized that providing training for surgeons was not effective without also supplying the orthopaedic instruments and implants needed to use that knowledge.
The SIGN System enables surgeons to provide better more reliable healing and faster recovery from a fracture than they could using traction. [1] One independent study shows that SIGN’s implants provide the same outcome as the gold standard for femoral shaft fractures, at a lower price for patients. [2]
Education
SIGN partners with surgeons based in LMIC by providing orthopaedic education opportunities. SIGN hosts an annual conference for international surgeons, and supports regional conferences and trainings around the world. In addition, mentor surgeons provide feedback on every surgery after reviewing x-rays and case notes submitted to the SIGN Surgical Database. SIGN also partners with medical schools in LMIC to support their orthopaedic residency programs, with the goal of increasing the number of qualified surgeons in their home countries.
Medical Device Manufacturing
Intramedullary (IM) nails
SIGN designs, manufactures, and donates intramedullary nails used to treat fractures in the femur, tibia, and humerus. The SIGN Nail is a solid, stainless-steel rod inserted into the canal of a fractured bone and stabilized with screws on each end. They are produced in a variety of lengths to allow surgeons to treat fractures for optimal results based on patient presentation.
A design variant called the SIGN Fin Nail does not require interlocking screws at the distal end, using instead the friction of flanged fins to lock into the bone canal. This has been shown to make surgery simpler and significantly faster.
SIGN’s Pediatric Fin Nail uses the fin design, but is scaled to fit in the bones of younger patients and avoids using screws in growth centers of the bone, allowing the patient to grow during healing and avoiding long-term complications.
Orthopaedic Instruments
SIGN manufactures a system of orthopaedic instruments used to insert the nail and stabilize it with interlocking screws. This system does not rely on live-view C-arm x-ray systems in the operating room, as most commercially available implants do. Instead, SIGN’s Target Arm and Slot Finder guide insertion of the nail and accurately positioning screws for stabilization.
The SIGN System can be used without electricity, making it possible to perform surgery in austere conditions, including after natural disasters or in conflict regions. This is notable, as the World Health Organization estimates nearly 1 billion people are served by healthcare facilities that lack reliable access to electricity. [3]
Manufacturing Compliance
SIGN Fracture Care is registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration. SIGN manufactures finished medical devices in compliance with the United States Code of Federal Regulations, FDA Quality System Regulation ( 21CFR820) and maintains a quality management system that is certified to be compliant with ISO 13485:2016.
Patents Held
SIGN Instruments and Implants patented with the United States Patent and Trademarks Office include:
- SIGN Hip Construct ( US-8157803-B1)
- SIGN Target Arm and Slot Finder ( US-20020151897-A1, US-20040082955-A1, and US-7066943-B2)
- SIGN Bone Fixation System ( US-10441317-B2)
Current Non-profit Operations
Through contributions from individuals and foundations, SIGN donates education, instruments, and implants at no cost to hospitals or patients. In some cases, hospitals and distributors purchase implants at or below production cost.
As of November 2023, SIGN partners with more than 7,000 surgeons at 420 hospitals in 57 countries. Surgeons trained by SIGN have cared for more than 420,000 patients with fractures since 1999, and provide surgery for around 30,000 patients per year.
Low- and Middle-Income Countries with Active SIGN Programs by Region
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | 1 | 2013 |
| Benin | 1 | 2021 |
| Burkina Faso | 1 | 2022 |
| Burundi | 7 | 2010 |
| Cameroon | 6 | 2007 |
| Chad | 4 | 2012 |
| Dem. Rep. of the Congo | 5 | 2012 |
| Ethiopia | 45 | 2009 |
| Gabonese Republic | 1 | 2010 |
| Ghana | 4 | 2014 |
| Guinea | 2 | 2019 |
| Kenya | 17 | 2007 |
| Lesotho | 1 | 2022 |
| Liberia | 4 | 2007 |
| Madagascar | 1 | 2020 |
| Malawi | 6 | 2007 |
| Mali | 1 | 2016 |
| Niger | 2 | 2007 |
| Nigeria | 17 | 2007 |
| Rwanda | 5 | 2007 |
| Sierra Leone | 2 | 2009 |
| Somalia | 2 | 2021 |
| Somaliland | 4 | 2019 |
| South Sudan | 3 | 2012 |
| Tanzania | 34 | 2007 |
| The Gambia | 1 | 2017 |
| Togo | 1 | 2014 |
| Uganda | 9 | 2010 |
| Zambia | 1 | 2013 |
| Zimbabwe | 6 | 2012 |
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic | 4 | 2007 |
| Ecuador | 3 | 2007 |
| Haiti | 15 | 2007 |
| Honduras | 2 | 2016 |
| Nicaragua | 2 | 2007 |
| Peru | 2 | 2007 |
| Saint Lucia | 1 | 2007 |
| Venezuela | 1 | 2019 |
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 21 | 2007 |
| Armenia | 3 | 2020 |
| Bangladesh | 7 | 2007 |
| Bhutan | 1 | 2007 |
| Cambodia | 17 | 2007 |
| India | 1 | 2007 |
| Indonesia | 3 | 2007 |
| Iraq | 2 | 2007 |
| Lao PDR | 4 | 2012 |
| Mongolia | 2 | 2008 |
| Myanmar | 16 | 2007 |
| Nepal | 10 | 2007 |
| Pakistan | 8 | 2007 |
| The Philippines | 10 | 2007 |
| Vietnam | 1 | 2007 |
| Yemen | 1 | 2021 |
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | 1 | 2018 |
| Solomon Islands | 1 | 2014 |
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 13 | 2022 |
Non-profit Industry Accreditation
- SIGN has been rated as a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator since 2011. [4]
- The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance reports that SIGN Fracture Care meets all of its standards for charity accountability. [5]
- Candid recognizes SIGN as a "platinum-level GuideStar participant, demonstrating its commitment to transparency". [6]
- GreatNonprofits lists SIGN as a "2023 Top-Rated Nonprofit". [2]
References
- ^ Parkes, Rebekah J; Parkes, Gary; James, Kyle (19 May 2017). "A systematic review of cost-effectiveness, comparing traction to intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures, in the less economically developed context". BMJ Global Health. 2 (3): e000313. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000313. ISSN 2059-7908 – via NCBI.
- ^ Panti, Juan Paulo L.; Geronilla, Mario; Arada, Ernesto Carlo (October 23, 2013). "Clinical outcomes of patients with isolated femoral shaft fractures treated with S.I.G.N interlock nails versus Cannulated Interlock Intramedullary nails". Journal of Orthopaedics. 10 (4): 182–187. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2013.09.003. ISSN 0972-978X.
- ^ "Close to one billion people globally are served by health-care facilities with no electricity access or with unreliable electricity". www.who.int. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
- ^ "Charity Ratings and Donor Resources". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "SIGN Fracture Care International charity review & reports by Give.org". Give.org | BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "SIGN Fracture Care International - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
| Draft article not currently submitted for review.
This is a draft Articles for creation (AfC) submission. It is not currently pending review. While there are no deadlines, abandoned drafts may be deleted after six months. To edit the draft click on the "Edit" tab at the top of the window. To be accepted, a draft should:
It is strongly discouraged to write about yourself, your business or employer. If you do so, you must declare it. Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Last edited by
UtherSRG (
talk |
contribs) 2 seconds ago. (
Update) |
SIGN Fracture Care International | |
|
| |
| Nickname | SIGN |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 29, 1999 |
| Founder | Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle, Jr., President |
| Type |
Non-Profit Organization 501(c)(3) |
| 91-1952283 | |
| Purpose | Building orthopaedic capacity in LMIC by providing orthopaedic education and medical device design, manufacture, and donation of implants. |
| Headquarters | Richland, Washington, U.S. |
Region | Global |
Chief Executive Officer | Jeanne Dillner |
Budget (2022) | US$ 8,340,000 |
Revenue (2022) | US$ 7,838,000 |
| Expenses (2022) | US$ 8,534,000 |
Staff (2023) | 41 |
| Website | https://signfracturecare.org |
Formerly called | Surgical Implant Generation Network |
Overview
SIGN Fracture Care (SIGN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization equipping orthopaedic surgeons in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). It was founded in 1999 by Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle, Jr. to help surgeons care for patients with a fractured long bone.
SIGN’s vision is to create equality of fracture care throughout the world. [1]
SIGN empowers doctors in impoverished countries to improve the quality of care they can provide for patients with bone fractures. The SIGN Model is to provide ongoing educational support for LMIC surgeons, then donate the orthopaedic instruments and implants the surgeons need to care for patients with broken bones.
SIGN’s founder invented and patented a system of orthopaedic instruments and implants designed for use in low-resource hospitals.
After his experiences working and volunteering in Vietnam and Indonesia, he recognized that providing training for surgeons was not effective without also supplying the orthopaedic instruments and implants needed to use that knowledge.
The SIGN System enables surgeons to provide better more reliable healing and faster recovery from a fracture than they could using traction. [1] One independent study shows that SIGN’s implants provide the same outcome as the gold standard for femoral shaft fractures, at a lower price for patients. [2]
Education
SIGN partners with surgeons based in LMIC by providing orthopaedic education opportunities. SIGN hosts an annual conference for international surgeons, and supports regional conferences and trainings around the world. In addition, mentor surgeons provide feedback on every surgery after reviewing x-rays and case notes submitted to the SIGN Surgical Database. SIGN also partners with medical schools in LMIC to support their orthopaedic residency programs, with the goal of increasing the number of qualified surgeons in their home countries.
Medical Device Manufacturing
Intramedullary (IM) nails
SIGN designs, manufactures, and donates intramedullary nails used to treat fractures in the femur, tibia, and humerus. The SIGN Nail is a solid, stainless-steel rod inserted into the canal of a fractured bone and stabilized with screws on each end. They are produced in a variety of lengths to allow surgeons to treat fractures for optimal results based on patient presentation.
A design variant called the SIGN Fin Nail does not require interlocking screws at the distal end, using instead the friction of flanged fins to lock into the bone canal. This has been shown to make surgery simpler and significantly faster.
SIGN’s Pediatric Fin Nail uses the fin design, but is scaled to fit in the bones of younger patients and avoids using screws in growth centers of the bone, allowing the patient to grow during healing and avoiding long-term complications.
Orthopaedic Instruments
SIGN manufactures a system of orthopaedic instruments used to insert the nail and stabilize it with interlocking screws. This system does not rely on live-view C-arm x-ray systems in the operating room, as most commercially available implants do. Instead, SIGN’s Target Arm and Slot Finder guide insertion of the nail and accurately positioning screws for stabilization.
The SIGN System can be used without electricity, making it possible to perform surgery in austere conditions, including after natural disasters or in conflict regions. This is notable, as the World Health Organization estimates nearly 1 billion people are served by healthcare facilities that lack reliable access to electricity. [3]
Manufacturing Compliance
SIGN Fracture Care is registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration. SIGN manufactures finished medical devices in compliance with the United States Code of Federal Regulations, FDA Quality System Regulation ( 21CFR820) and maintains a quality management system that is certified to be compliant with ISO 13485:2016.
Patents Held
SIGN Instruments and Implants patented with the United States Patent and Trademarks Office include:
- SIGN Hip Construct ( US-8157803-B1)
- SIGN Target Arm and Slot Finder ( US-20020151897-A1, US-20040082955-A1, and US-7066943-B2)
- SIGN Bone Fixation System ( US-10441317-B2)
Current Non-profit Operations
Through contributions from individuals and foundations, SIGN donates education, instruments, and implants at no cost to hospitals or patients. In some cases, hospitals and distributors purchase implants at or below production cost.
As of November 2023, SIGN partners with more than 7,000 surgeons at 420 hospitals in 57 countries. Surgeons trained by SIGN have cared for more than 420,000 patients with fractures since 1999, and provide surgery for around 30,000 patients per year.
Low- and Middle-Income Countries with Active SIGN Programs by Region
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Angola | 1 | 2013 |
| Benin | 1 | 2021 |
| Burkina Faso | 1 | 2022 |
| Burundi | 7 | 2010 |
| Cameroon | 6 | 2007 |
| Chad | 4 | 2012 |
| Dem. Rep. of the Congo | 5 | 2012 |
| Ethiopia | 45 | 2009 |
| Gabonese Republic | 1 | 2010 |
| Ghana | 4 | 2014 |
| Guinea | 2 | 2019 |
| Kenya | 17 | 2007 |
| Lesotho | 1 | 2022 |
| Liberia | 4 | 2007 |
| Madagascar | 1 | 2020 |
| Malawi | 6 | 2007 |
| Mali | 1 | 2016 |
| Niger | 2 | 2007 |
| Nigeria | 17 | 2007 |
| Rwanda | 5 | 2007 |
| Sierra Leone | 2 | 2009 |
| Somalia | 2 | 2021 |
| Somaliland | 4 | 2019 |
| South Sudan | 3 | 2012 |
| Tanzania | 34 | 2007 |
| The Gambia | 1 | 2017 |
| Togo | 1 | 2014 |
| Uganda | 9 | 2010 |
| Zambia | 1 | 2013 |
| Zimbabwe | 6 | 2012 |
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic | 4 | 2007 |
| Ecuador | 3 | 2007 |
| Haiti | 15 | 2007 |
| Honduras | 2 | 2016 |
| Nicaragua | 2 | 2007 |
| Peru | 2 | 2007 |
| Saint Lucia | 1 | 2007 |
| Venezuela | 1 | 2019 |
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 21 | 2007 |
| Armenia | 3 | 2020 |
| Bangladesh | 7 | 2007 |
| Bhutan | 1 | 2007 |
| Cambodia | 17 | 2007 |
| India | 1 | 2007 |
| Indonesia | 3 | 2007 |
| Iraq | 2 | 2007 |
| Lao PDR | 4 | 2012 |
| Mongolia | 2 | 2008 |
| Myanmar | 16 | 2007 |
| Nepal | 10 | 2007 |
| Pakistan | 8 | 2007 |
| The Philippines | 10 | 2007 |
| Vietnam | 1 | 2007 |
| Yemen | 1 | 2021 |
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | 1 | 2018 |
| Solomon Islands | 1 | 2014 |
| Country | # of Programs | Active Since |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 13 | 2022 |
Non-profit Industry Accreditation
- SIGN has been rated as a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator since 2011. [4]
- The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance reports that SIGN Fracture Care meets all of its standards for charity accountability. [5]
- Candid recognizes SIGN as a "platinum-level GuideStar participant, demonstrating its commitment to transparency". [6]
- GreatNonprofits lists SIGN as a "2023 Top-Rated Nonprofit". [2]
References
- ^ Parkes, Rebekah J; Parkes, Gary; James, Kyle (19 May 2017). "A systematic review of cost-effectiveness, comparing traction to intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures, in the less economically developed context". BMJ Global Health. 2 (3): e000313. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000313. ISSN 2059-7908 – via NCBI.
- ^ Panti, Juan Paulo L.; Geronilla, Mario; Arada, Ernesto Carlo (October 23, 2013). "Clinical outcomes of patients with isolated femoral shaft fractures treated with S.I.G.N interlock nails versus Cannulated Interlock Intramedullary nails". Journal of Orthopaedics. 10 (4): 182–187. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2013.09.003. ISSN 0972-978X.
- ^ "Close to one billion people globally are served by health-care facilities with no electricity access or with unreliable electricity". www.who.int. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
- ^ "Charity Ratings and Donor Resources". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "SIGN Fracture Care International charity review & reports by Give.org". Give.org | BBB Wise Giving Alliance. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "SIGN Fracture Care International - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2023-11-15.