Tambo hospital provides a unique service in orthopedics, prosthetics

The Orthotics and Prosthetics Department at Tambo Memorial Hospital continues to thrive among challenges to provide high quality care for the swelling numbers of patients suffering from various orthopaedic conditions.

Last year the department rendered service to about 4 800 patients. This year alone, the department has issued 70 prostheses.

The department is led by chief medical orthotists, Muhammed Ismail and Dirk Venter.

The department has other seven qualified orthotists, and two interns.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Ismail said the department is divided into two sections, the orthotics and prosthetics.

“The one part of the work we do is more acute where we issue out knee braces, neck braces, back braces and walking aid such as crutches, walking frames, and more, to patients who need them.

“The other part of our work is all the manufacturing work where we do artificial limbs, modified shoes, and more.

“When patients are referred to us, we start by assessing them to see if they are good candidates by offering them therapy to get them to the point where they can use a prosthesis.

“We then take measurements, modify the prostheses so they fit the patient, and mould the part the patient will wear over the stump called the socket. We then make sure that it fits perfectly before assembling the parts,” Ismail said.

Venter said that some of the patients who come to the hospital are not strong enough to use the prostheses because of the heaviness of the leg.

“We then refer them to physiotherapists, and once they feel ready and strong enough to work with it, they then come back to us and we make the leg.

“We have come across patients who are depressed, despondent and have lost hope. Some patients are positive and more cooperative with us,” Venter said.

Ismail admitted they have an 18 months backlog, and have about 280 patients who have applied for prostheses.

“We try by all means to help patients to provide speedy services,” said Venter.

Venter said the general period to receive prostheses solely depends on patients.

“For us to finish artificial limbs, it takes us about two weeks. However, due to some patients having financial problems, it can take months because they don’t have transport money to come to the hospital.

“The majority of our patients can’t use public transport, so some of them hire private vehicles to bring them to the hospital which becomes costly, hence they only come once a month,” Ismail said.

Ismail encourages anyone whose limbs may have been amputated not give up because there’s help available.

“If you’ve suffered an amputation, and may be feeling a little bit depressed, it’s not the end of the road. Your local hospital does provide a comprehensive service that can make you independent again,” Ismail said.

He said they have provided prostheses to construction workers and taxi drivers who now continue their daily work.

* Lungile Mkhwanazi of Villa Liza, who died in July after a short but brave battle with cancer, was one of such patients who received a prosthetic leg from the Tambo Memorial Hospital.

Lungile had her wish fulfilled when the hospital gave her a prosthetic leg after hearing her desperate plea for the donation of, or financial assistance towards, an artificial limb when the Advertiser ran her story.