By
A new medical service at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) will be providing artificial limbs to a wide number of patients who had to undergo amputations due to conditions including diabetes, vascular disease, trauma, congenital deficiencies and cancer.
Since its opening at Shaikh Khalifa Medical City in March 2008, the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department has treated 63 amputees and 230 patients requiring bone supporting structures (orthoses), and is currently in the process of treating 22 amputees and 150 orthotic patients.
The centre, which is the only one of its kind in Abu Dhabi, receives more than 20 new referrals per week.
“The commencement of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Services is a significant step forward.
“This will enable us to treat patients referred from all hospitals in the UAE, thus increasing convenience and comfort for them and their respective families,” said Ibrahim Al Kuwaiti, Project Director of Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Centre (ADRC) where the service is provided.
Kirrily Brown, Acting Supervisor at the Prosthetics and Orthotics Services said the patients who had amputations must visit the centre at least every year.
“A large part of our role is to also educate the patients about their artificial limbs or support structures so that they could achieve optimum function and quality of life,” she said.
