Provision of Prosthetic Services Following Lower Limb Amputation in Malaysia

Abstract

The incidence of lower limb amputation is high across the globe and continues to be a major threat to morbidity and mortality. Consequently, the provision of high quality and effective prosthetics services have been known as an essential component for a successful rehabilitation outcome. In Malaysia, amputation prevalence has been increasing in which several main components of service delivering aspects (such as service intervention, prosthetic personnel) should be anticipated to accommodate for the increasing demand. This article highlights the hurdles experienced in providing prosthetic services in Malaysia from multiple aspects such as financial burden to acquire the prosthesis and lack of expertise to produce quality prosthesis. This paramount issues consequently justify for the urgency to carry out national level survey on the current statistics of lower limb amputation and to ascertain the available workforce to provide a quality prosthetics services. Only with accurate and current information from the national survey, strategies and policies aimed at enhancing the outcome from prosthetics services can be achieved.

A Short Review on the Cost, Design, Materials and Challenges of the Prosthetics Leg Development and Usage

“…The uplifting demand of prosthesis over the years is due to the demand for a better quality of life by those who are affected. Over the time, tremendous technological advancement has been applied and tested in prosthesis componentry in order to produce a quality and cost-effective prosthesis for users [1]. However, prescription of prosthesis must be in lined according to the K-level and for a few cases of amputation, amputee has no choice but to use a custom made prosthesis in order to improve their quality of life.…”

“…Geography factor also plays role in affecting the market price of these prostheses. Since the optimal services are usually available only in West Malaysia, the price range differ in other part of Malaysia since transportation cost and other expenses will be taken into account [1]. Based on study conducted in Italy, C-leg cost around €18,616 including the technology acquisition, trial period and 3 years guarantee while an addition of €1,440 for each year guarantee extension.…”

“…According to International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), prosthetic can be defined as an artificial limb that is functioned to restore or replace the lost part of body's limb either due to congenital defect, accident, surgery, trauma or illness resulting in daily activity limitation and participation restriction towards the amputee [1]. Meanwhile, prosthetic design is categorized as biomechanics study branch where it is known as the uses of science in mechanical devices that works accordingly to human's muscle, skeleton, and nervous system in the effort to restore individual's motor function [2].…”

“…Prescription for lower limb amputation differs according to amputation level, amputation aetiology, and the amputee's daily life activities. Hence, to ensure the independence and social integration of amputees is achieved, provision of high-quality prosthetic services is crucial [1]. The objectives of this review paper are 1) to present the cost overview of prosthetic leg available in the market, 2) to classify the prosthetic leg design according to the need and function of users, 3) to highlight the difficulties and challenges faced by user of prosthetic leg, 4) to analyze the current researches and 5) to project the future recommendations for the development of prosthetic industry suggested by researchers.…”

Clinical management of quadriplegia in low and middle-income countries: a patient’s road to physiotherapy, prostheses and rehabilitation

“…With the introduction of these services at each level, there was a dissemination of information for indigent patients on how to access such services. In the 1970s, there was a an emerging sector of private prosthetic companies which contributed to a major shift in Malaysian health policy in that government decided to outsource all medical services including prosthetics 12. This was applied to both the public and private sectors of the national healthcare system.…”