International public health in third world country medical missions: when small legs walk, we all stand a little taller.

Medical and surgical missions in Third World countries are mentally, physically, and financially demanding; however, there are many foot and ankle surgeons volunteering their time because it provides high levels of personal and emotional satisfaction. After many years in the missionary field, we would like to share a compilation study of our long-term experience and outcomes from our international medical and surgical pediatric mission trips to Latin American countries. We hope to instill in others the same passion for this work by sharing our portion of contribution in this vast world of international public health.