Abu Dhabi - 10 September 2008:  Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), managed by Cleveland Clinic, announces the commencement of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Services at Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Center (ADRC) which assesses, prescribes, manufactures, fits and reviews prostheses (artificial limbs) and orthoses (braces / supports) to patients of diverse age groups and diagnoses.  The Prosthetics and Orthotics Services receive referrals from many specialties including Rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Vascular Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pediatrics, Oncology and Wound Care.  It offers services for the inpatients of SKMC as well as outpatients from SKMC and other hospitals in the UAE. 

Dr Scott Strong, Acting CEO of SKMC, stated that "Prosthetics and Orthotics team uses proven techniques and quality standards to ensure the greatest return of function or reduction of pain. They dedicate themselves to providing superior care of patients through compassion, expertise and collaborative efforts between physicians and other allied health staff. The unit is committed to using the most appropriate technology along with the most up to date information and education to service prosthetic and orthotic patients".

Mr. Ibrahim Al Kuwaiti, Project Director of ADRC, said that "SEHA and SKMC are sincerely committed to the continuous improvement of healthcare in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and the commencement of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Services is a significant step forward.  The new services will enable us to treat patients referred from all hospitals in the UAE thus increased convenience and comfort for them and their respective families."

Kirrily Brown, Acting Supervisor at the Prosthetics & Orthotics Services said that "Since opening at SKMC in March 2008, we have treated / assessed 63 amputees and 230 patients requiring orthoses, and at present we are currently in the process of treating 22 amputees and 150 orthotic patients. We receive more than twenty new referrals per week. After fitting a new orthosis, our orthotic patients are advised to come and see us every at least 3-6 months if the patient is a child (dependent on age, patient diagnosis), or every 6-12 months if the patient is an adult".

"Prosthetic patients may come and see us at least once a week for the first month if they are a new amputee and then every 3 months after that until their residual limb stabilizes.  If the patient is an existing amputee, we recommend review at least every year.  The life span of a prosthesis fitted after the residual limb matures is about 3 years.  We stress the importance of attending regular reviews, as this allows us to monitor the fit, function and structural integrity of the prosthesis / orthosis, as well as to foresee any potential need for replacement or repair", She added. "For patients who have undergone limb amputation, our Prosthetist will assess, measure, manufacture, and fit upper and lower limb prostheses. We have a wide variety of prostheses available, and aim to use technology which is the most appropriate for, and meets, the patients needs. For patients with musculoskeletal or neuromuscular conditions, our Orthotist will assess, measure, manufacture, and fit the most suitable type of orthosis. We also carry a large variety of ready made orthoses for those requiring short term treatment, which provides the patient with the opportunity to choose the best and most cost effective treatment option for them".

Kirrily Brown further added that "A large part of our role is to also educate the patient about their prosthesis / orthosis in order for them to achieve optimal function and quality of life".

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Brief on SKMC  Prosthetics and Orthotics
Prosthetics and Orthotics provides artificial limbs (prostheses) and/or braces (orthoses) to patients of diverse age groups and diagnoses. Prosthetics and Orthotics' patients are referred from a physician for expert treatment of musculoskeletal, neurologic and systematic disorders.  

Prosthetists design prostheses (artificial limbs) for patients who have undergone an amputation or present with a congenital anomaly. The prosthesis is custom designed for each individual to fulfill both cosmetic and biomechanic needs.

Orthotists treat individuals who require support for their spine or extremity. Orthoses (braces) are customized or custom designed and fabricated to meet an individual's needs. The orthosis may be needed to reduce pain or to provide support to an extremity that has lost function due to damage to bones, ligaments, nerves or muscles.

Some of the common custom made items at the Unit: Shoe modifications, Foot orthotics, Ankle-Foot orthotics, Knee orthoses, Knee-Ankle-Foot orthotics, Thoraco-Lumbar-Sacral Orthoses (e.g., Boston braces, Knight-Taylor Orthoses), Lumbar-Sacral orthoses, Wrist-Hand orthoses, Upper Limb orthoses, Lower and Upper Limb prostheses

Some of the ready made Items: Back braces, Wrist braces, Leg braces, Spinal braces, Breast prostheses

Some of the Conditions / Diagnoses seen at the Unit: Amputations due to diabetes, vascular disease, trauma, congenital deficiencies and cancer, as well as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Hemiplegia, Pes Planus , Pes Plano-valgus, Foot drop, Diabetic Foot, Developmental Dysplastic Hip / CDH, Scoliosis, Leg Length Discrepancies, Polio, Congenital Talipes Equino Varus, Developmental Delay, Post-surgical (e.g., orthopaedic, neurosurgical, plastics, general surgery).

Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Center Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Center (ADRC) is located on Al Karamah Street next to the Surgical and Medical Pavilions of SKMC. The Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Center was opened under the auspices of her highness Fatima Bint Mubarak (may God protect her) on November 29th, 1993, to meet the community needs of counseling and treatment of people with special needs as well as the elderly. The vision of the Center continues to focus on its principal objective, which is to provide medical, nursing, and rehabilitation care for these groups.

The Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Center provides the following services:

  • Education and Entertaining Activities

  • Occupational Therapy

  • Physiotherapy

  • Psychology Therapy

  • Social Services

  • Speech Therapy

  • Prosthetics and Orthotics

About SKMC
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), located in Abu Dhabi, UAE, operates under the management of Cleveland Clinic, named among the top hospitals in the USA by U.S. News and World Report. SKMC is owned by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, recently established to oversee operations of all public hospitals in the Emirate.  SKMC is the flagship institution for the public health system in Abu Dhabi and has several 'Centers of Excellence,' and aspires to practice contemporary medicine comparable to the best hospitals and medical centers in the world. SKMC provides comprehensive health care services in all of the disciplines relevant to the needs and priorities of the community to attain the highest levels of patient satisfaction.

SKMC consists of a 550-bed Acute Care Hospital and 14 specialized outpatient clinics accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI).  In addition, SKMC manages a 120-bed Behavior Sciences Pavilion, a 90-bed Rehabilitation Center, 9 primary healthcare centers and 2 dental centers distributed over the city of Abu Dhabi. 

© Press Release 2008