The Orthotic and Prosthetic Unit

This unit deals with conditions like polio, cerebral palsy, amputees, hemiplegic and paraplegic patients. Orthotic is a mechanical device, which is fitted to any part of the body with the object keeping that part in the maximum possible anatomical and functional position. The different types of orthotic manufactured in this unit are HKAFO, KAFO and AFO. These orthotic are fitted to the patients depending upon their conditions and according to the doctor’s prescription. Prosthesis is to replace the lost part of the body. The different types of prostheses manufactured in this centre are above-knee, below-knee, Syme’s, above-elbow and below-elbow prostheses. Moreover, assistive devices are manufactured with conventional as well as imported prostheses.  Special footwear for diabetic, heel-pain and knee-pain patients, known as the Micro Cellular Rubber (MCR) Footwear is also manufactured.

Present Prosthetic & Orthotic Facilities
The O & P Unit of the FDMSE is a modest setup capable of producing moderately good quality orthotic and prosthetic devices. Compared to its limited infrastructure, equipment and manpower, the unit has served surprisingly large number of clients and has a good reputation. The unit is housed in a small enclosure measuring 30 ft x 30 ft. The hall is partitioned using aluminium channels fixed with card board and glass panels to create following sections:

• Cabin: To store’s a files, records and intercom connectivity

• Store Room to stock materials. A   working bench is fixed here to carry on lamination works, cutting P.P. sheet works, and works related to heat gun machine.

• Machine room contains a shear cutter machine, a drilling machine and a stone grinder.

• POP Section has a small pipe vice and a grinding machine to carry out modification work.

• Thermo Plastic oven: Electric oven machine is place in that room.

• Swing Machine section: Stitching works takes place.

• Workshop: One working bench with one bench vice to carry out appropriate operations takes place.

• Assistive Devices storing place: Finished O & P devices are stored in the cabin.

Activities of Orthotic and Prosthetic Unit
The O & P Unit is rendering its services to variety of clients mainly under following three categories:

I: Services under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan – a Central Govt. Initiative:
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a national movement aimed at ‘Education for All’ including the children with disabilities.  Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya is the nodal agency for implementing the SSA programme in Coimbatore and The Nilgiris districts. In Coimbatore districts the scheme is implemented through 22 blocks and the Nilgiris District has four blocks.

The SSA activities are confined to school going children (up to class XII) providing them variety of facilities. In order to serve the disabled children, the special educators visit all the in-school children to find out the educational needs, aids and appliances required by them etc. They also conduct survey to identify the out of school children and prepare a detailed assessment plan regarding the assistive devices required. Mostly disabled persons need Braille slates, Abacus, Taylor Frame, and Mobility Cane. Requirements of orthotic and Prosthetic devices are passed on to our O & S unit. Mostly orthopedically challenged children need tricycles, wheel chairs, calipers, special shoes, crutches and splints. As per the requirement of each child in the blocks, detailed measurements are made and our team manufactures the items or purchases some complements from reputed agencies and finished products are distributed in the children.

Regular camps are also conducted with assistance from ENT specialists, ophthalmologists, orthotists, psychiatrists, pediatricians and audiologists apart from the village administrative officers, tashildars and revenue inspectors. The children are assessed and details of their requirement is passed on to our O & P Unit. 

II: Services under Vazhndhu Kattuvom Project – a State Govt. Initiative:
The slogan ‘vazhndhu kattuvom’ embedded in the project name Vazhndhu Kattuvom Project (VKP) has meaning ‘We will grow and show’. The project is mainly designed to benefit disabled people not covered under the SSA Scheme. Whereas the SSA services are restricted only to school children, the VKP is designed to serve all categories. Mode of assessment for both the projects is quite similar in nature. At present prosthetic and orthotic devices are distributed under the VKP scheme in four blocks in Coimbatore district for distributing. The blocks are Kongalnagarm, Gudimangalam, Thondamuthur and Palladam. Plan for extending the services in different districts are underway.

III: Consultancy Services to Individual Paitents:
Few patients opt for specifically designed and better orthotic and prosthetic devices otherwise not available under either the SSA or VKP projects. The number is quite small because our unit does not have adequate infrastructure and equipment to serve these patient with high quality stuff.

At a glance statement of services provided by our Orthotic and Prosthetic unit is given below: