SHILLONG: John Ross, Director, Endolite, a rehabilitation services company focused on Prosthetic & Orthotic services was in the city recently to address a one day seminar “Recent Advancements in Artificial Limbs” organized by the Department of Orthopaedics, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong.
Ross who is from United Kingdom said that while giving lectures and teaching guidance he always told his patients and students that there is a difference between disability and handicap. “Amputees can do these days as much as anybody else,” he said.
Giving a presentation, he informed the visiting students from the department and others about various aspects of a prosthesis starting from socket, replacement of joints and replacement of function.
He showed an abutment that is processed on a person’s amputated leg which is used to link or attach the artificial limb by bolting it to the abutment.
While sharing a piece of study that was done in his country he said that Sweden has the most modern prosthesis whereas Germany, Austria, Australia among other countries is also there in the list.
But abutments have its various disadvantages also. “There are abutments which have been replaced many a times in an amputee whereas there is deep infection and superficial infections,” he said. “Infection is a recurring problem,” he said adding that there were many positive sides too.
Sharing a number of technological advancements that amputees are benefiting around the world he said Intraosseus Transcutaneous Amputation Prosthesis (ITAP) is a special type of mechanical energy returning foot that allows a leg amputee to use the leg in the old normal form.
“It cuts down on the knee infection and the specially designed Titanium which allows interface and reduces chance of infection,” he said.
Then there is the Echelon Foot which is a unique prosthetic device with stance phase hydraulic control and it naturally restores the individual’s ankle control. “A person can sit naturally, bring the leg closer, take away and get up and walk naturally,” he said.
Ross also said that unnatural body position also have its effect upon the use of a limb as amputees. But with the echelon ankle joint technology it reduces disabilities of a heavier body. “People with echelon foot can walk with natural movements on a slope as echelon adapts to slope, produces even pressure distribution at interface and increases sensory organs,” he said while adding that it takes around 4 weeks to acclimatise.
He informed that with the Echelon technology there is a significant increase in customers’ satisfaction and more Echelon results are far better than other technology products like Esprit.
Earlier, NEIGRIHMS director Prof AG Ahangar said things are changing with techniques. “Today if someone thinks that he has lost a hand or leg then life is nowhere but that is not true. Today NEIGHRIHMS is doing a yeoman service in this sector as department of orthopaedic, is returning patients with newer limbs as natural as possible,” he said.
“It is so easy to sit incapacitated in a wheelchair but there are people who run on artificial limbs,” he said giving the example of blade runner Oscar Pistorius. He acknowledged that recent technologies is doing a wonderful job and making people having a wonder life and doing away with their deficiencies.
