The PGIMER, Chandigarh has launched its ‘PGI Amputee Clinic’ which is also the first such clinic in India.
Highlights
- The launch of the clinic is a collective effort of various experts and departments of the institute who seeks to provide social, mental and physical support to the patients.
- The clinic was inaugurated by the PGIMER Director Prof. Jagat Ram.
- The clinic was set up to improve the amputation patient care by providing them a host of services under one roof and with significant coordination.
- Under this initiative, the amputee will be sent as a near normal functional human being to society.
- The Amputee Clinic would also attempt to unify all the diverse sections in PGIMER, with some upgradations where needed.
- It will provide appropriate management to the amputees so as to guide them in their path of rehabilitation in society.
What was the need of such clinic?
There is a need of such clinics in order to assess the recovery and co-morbidities of patients who undergo amputation. This is done with a team of occupational therapists and a psychologist who gets involved in patient care immediately. With this clinic, the patient will not be forced to fall out of the rehabilitation process because of stress and anxiety.
Significance of the clinic
The clinic involves the development of a comprehensive database. This would provide a platform for future research and give the essential information about the burden, long-term complications and rehabilitation issues of the amputees. These clinics would also offer a forum for these patients where they can bring their problems and discuss with the team.
What is Amputation?
It is the removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery. It is used to control the pain or a disease process in the affected limb. Sometimes, it is carried out on individuals as a preventive surgery. In countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran amputation is currently used to punish people who committed crime.