Traumatólogos militares españoles en Mauritania: otra forma de diplomacia de defensa

The role of Military Health in the field of Defence Diplomacy has many ways of understanding and being implemented, including the use of human resources. After years of cooperation between Spain and Mauritania, the Ministry of Defense has commissioned Spanish military physicians to provide training and advice to their Mauritanian counterparts. This report shows the activity of two Spanish orthopedic and trauma surgeons during his stay in the Military Hospital of Nouakchott. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective study carried out between May 22 and 27, 2017, in which all the activities carried out by two Spanish medical officers during their stay in Mauritania and the medical assistance provided by the same in the Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology Department of the Military Hospital of Nouakchott. Results: During the study period, Spanish medical officers took part in four workdays, in which they rendered 28 outpatient consultations, performed 7 arthroscopic knee surgeries and participated in 8 clinical sessions, in addition to other diplomatic tasks. Conclusion: The use of commissioned military physicians in foreign countries offers a way of Defence Diplomacy based on a recognized model whose ultimate goal is to improve global stability and security