Numerous amputation surgeries that were performed immediately after the earthquake in Haiti were done in tent hospitals under candlelight in order to save lives. It’s understandable that these amputations were not up to the medical standards of prosthetic fittings for later in time. To compound the problem, Haiti lost two well established amputee clinics from the earthquake, but Hanger Orthopedic Group and its partners, including Physicians for Peace, quickly established the Haitian Amputee Coalition Prosthetic and Rehabilitation Center to aid the amputee population. The clinic opened in late February and after its first full week of operation, had already fit 20 amputees with below the knee prostheses. Unfortunately, some of the emergency surgeries in the field require additional surgery before a prosthetic can be fit. While the medical staff are explaining to the amputee and their family members why they need additional surgery, more and more amputees are lining up with hope to be walking again.
In addition, the dire need for physical therapy for patients who received amputations has become more apparent. With no access to rehabilitation services, many of these people are already starting to experience tightness in their muscles that could lead to irreversible contractures, making joints unusable. Physicians for Peace Physical Therapy volunteers are beginning to address these medical cases and training the patients and their families on the importance of using the limb muscles to strengthen them for an eventual prosthetic. A new Physical Therapy mission will leave for Haiti in late March.
These amputees would have had very little or no chance of walking again without the work accomplished by the new Haitian Amputee Coalition. Their work has been possible as a result of your recent support.
Later this week, we will be sharing a patient story from Haiti…
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