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SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 1974
HIGHER DEMAND FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS
RESEARCH TO IMPROVE QUALITY ******
THE DEMAND FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS AND ORTHOPAEDIC APPLIANCES IS ON THE RISE WITH THE EVER-INCREASING INDUSTRIAL AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
TO MEET THIS GROWING DEMAND, THE PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC SERVICE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS LAUNCHED A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE THE FABRICATION AND FITTING OF LOWER LIMB PROSTHESES AND FOOT APPLIANCE.
THESE INCLUDE IMPROVED DESIGN OF ABOVE-KNEE SUSPENSION SYSTEM, NEW HATERIAL FOR MAKING FOOT SPLINTS AND MEU COMPONENTS FOR FABRICATING A CERTAIN SPECIAL ARTIFICIAL FOOT.
IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED A MYO-ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED HAND FOR BELOW-ELBOU AMPUTEES.
COMBINING THE BEST COSMETIC EFFECT WITH SUPERIOR PREHENSION POWER AND SPEED, IT WORKS ALMOST NOISELESSLY AND REQUIRES ONLY THE MINIMUM EFFORT FROM THE REMAINING NATURAL MUSCLE.
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STARTED IN THE EARLY 1960'S, THE · PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC SERVICE IS NOW EXTENDED TO THE PUBLIC AND PATIENTS OF ALL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
THERE IS A CENTRE ON EACH SIDE OF THE HARBOUR AT KOWLOON HOSPITAL AND DAVID TRENCH REHABILITATION CENTRE - MEMBERS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF TWO PROSTHETISTS.
WITH 50 STAFF
BESIDES ARTIFICIAL LIMBS, THE PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC SERVICE ALSO PROVIDES OTHER BODY SUPPORTS SUCH AS LEG BRACES, SPINAL BRACES, HAND AND ARM SPLINTS, FOOT APPLIANCE, ORTHOPAEDIC FOOTWEAR, AND WALKING AIDS.
ALL THESE ARE CHARGED ONLY FOR THE COST OF THE MATERIAL USED. IN CASES OF GENUINE HARDSHIP, THIS CHARGE MAY BE REMITTED OR EVEN WAVED.
THE SERVICE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY UNITS, RENDERS VALUABLE ASSISTANCE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.
IT PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 2,182 PIECES OF MODERN ARTIFICIAL LEGS AND HANDS AND BRACES TO THE HANDICAPPED LAST YEAR, COMPARED WITH 1,984 IN 1972. IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 1,000 PIECES WERE PRODUCED.
MEANWHILE, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING SCHEME FOR ALL STUDENT PROSTHETISTS, WHICH COVERS BOTH THE MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE WORK. APART FROM IN-SERVICE LOCAL TRAINING, OVERSEAS COURSES ARE ALSO ORGANISED.
SINCE 1968, FOUR PROSTHETISTS HAVE BEEN SENT ABROAD FOR POST-GRADUATE STUDY TO KEEP THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABREAST WITH LATEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPHENT IN OTHER PLACES.
DURING THE COURSE, THEY WERE ATTACHED TO ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTRES, REHABILITATION INSTITUTES, AND PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOTIC CENTRES IN EUROPE.
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