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Indigenous substitutes for modern prostheses and orthoses

T A Oshin

    Prosthetics and Orthotics International
    |December 1, 1981
    PubMed
    Summary

    Limited access to modern rehabilitative aids hinders physical therapy for amputees and polio patients in developing nations. Research into local materials for prosthetics and orthotics is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

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    Area of Science:

    • Rehabilitation Medicine
    • Biomedical Engineering
    • Developing Country Healthcare

    Background:

    • Physically handicapped individuals in developing countries face significant rehabilitation challenges due to a lack of modern assistive devices.
    • Patients requiring rehabilitation at University College Hospital, Ibadan, include children with poliomyelitis, hemiplegics, amputees, and paraplegics.
    • The unavailability of modular and P.T.B. prostheses forces amputees to rely on basic wooden peg legs or pylons.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To highlight the challenges in providing rehabilitation services due to the scarcity of modern aids.
    • To emphasize the need for developing and utilizing local materials for prosthetic and orthotic devices.
    • To address the specific needs of amputees and children with poliomyelitis in a resource-limited setting.

    Main Methods:

    • Clinical observation of patient needs and available resources at University College Hospital, Ibadan.
    • Assessment of the functional limitations imposed by the absence of advanced prosthetic components like knee joints.
    • Documentation of improvised solutions provided by the occupational therapy department and local artisans.

    Main Results:

    • Above-knee amputees face difficulties in gait training due to the lack of functional knee joints in available prostheses (peg legs/pylons).
    • A significant majority (75%) of polio patients and some paraplegics require orthotic devices such as calipers and spinal supports, which are in short supply.
    • Local resources, including the occupational therapy department, shoe markers, and iron welders, are utilized to create essential devices like pylons and cervical collars from materials such as PVC buckets.

    Conclusions:

    • The reliance on imported parts and materials, coupled with a shortage of skilled personnel, severely limits the ability to meet the demand for prostheses and orthoses.
    • The use of locally sourced materials and indigenous craftsmanship offers a viable, albeit limited, solution to bridge the gap in assistive device provision.
    • Further research into utilizing local materials for prosthetics and orthotics is essential to overcome supply chain issues and improve rehabilitation outcomes for patients in developing countries.

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