Sustainable modern prosthetic treatment in a developing country

Abstract EN

Amputees in developing countries, particularly those who live in rural communities, rely on their prostheses as a matter of economic survival.

In many developing countries modern prosthetic treatment is only available in the larger cities, far from rural villages.

Harsh physical and climatic conditions also require the prosthesis to be durable in its design and choice of materials.

Beginning in 1996 Prosthetics Outreach Foundation started a project to assist Vietnam with the development of a sustainable prosthetic program including prosthetic component manufacturing.

A custom socket is designed using computer aided design techniques and is fabricated using co-polymer materials.

Prosthetic components including feet have been designed for durability and are manufactured using local engineering materials.

The quality of the prosthesis and efficiency of this demonstration center could be a model to be duplicated in other developing countries.