Prosthetic Service

New patients (primary) are assessed by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and prosthetists. The outcome of this assessment may be a referral to the Prosthetic Service for a prothesis to be designed and manufactured to meet the individual patient's requirements. The referral is often made by the physiotherapist using the national referral form (SPARG form).

Resident established amputees can either self refer or a referral may be made by their own General Practitioner or other healthcare professional.

Once a referral is received, the service will arrange an appointment for the patient to be assessed for a prosthesis. The needs of the patient will be established and the prosthetist, alongside a team of highly skilled technicians, will design and fabricate the most appropriate solution. Once the prosthesis is ready, a fitting appointment will be arranged. At this appointment, any minor adjustments can be made to ensure that the optimum outcome has been achieved.

Patients are given training in the use of their protheses and a suitable level of functional independence is facilitated by the Amputee Therapy department at Ninewells Hospital.

In the early stages of rehabilitation, as the residual limb (stump) matures, patients often require a change of prosthetic socket to accomodate alterations in shape and volume. Patient needs are reviewed at regular intervals and their prostheses maintained to ensure that their level of independence is not compromised. This forms a significant part of the workload of the service.