An amputee clinic has been opened at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, which the doctors claim is first of its kind. This clinic will provide holistic care to patients with amputation by involving evaluation, resuscitation and treatment after initial event (usually trauma), followed by appropriate planning and surgical interventions.
PGI Director Prof Jagat Ram said that the patient’s first damaged limb will be treated in this clinic. After that, keeping him under doctor’s supervision, other facilities related to physiotherapy, counselling and rehabilitation will be made available. The operation of this clinic will be handled by the Orthopaedics Department of PGI. Along with the patient, the family will also be counselled
“This was being done previously too, but by various sub-specialities. Now it would be coordinated under one group to improve the amputation patient care,” said Dr Dhillon, head of orthopaedics.
Prof Jagat Ram also said that poor patients will be given free treatment at the amputee clinic. If a patient needs an artificial limb after surgery, PGI will bear the expenses. Along with this, PGI will also propose to the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and other states to provide some part of the expenditure incurred in the treatment of such patients.
Dr Dhillon said that about 300 such cases come every year in PGI’s Advanced Trauma Centre, out of which about 125 patients are from amputee. They have to amputate their arms and legs, but as the follow-up procedures are not done properly after the surgery, these patients face many difficulties in daily routine and work. In such a situation, these patients will be taught how to live a normal life through this clinic.
