Help with amputation: the Ministry of Health told about the stages of treatment and rehabilitation – News

The Ministry of Health named the stages of treatment and rehabilitation of people with amputations. As a result of the full-scale invasion of Russia, their number is increasing every day.

Treatment of each such patient is a complex and long process, say the Ministry of Health. On the way to recovery, they go through five important stages.

1. Amputation

After a limb amputation operation, the patient begins the recovery stage. During this period, it is important to prevent the development of complications, the ministry says.

“A normal daily routine and quality nutrition are of particular importance. The patient is under the control and supervision of doctors all the time.” – they say in the Ministry of Health.

At the same time as medical, the person is provided with rehabilitation assistance.

2. Healing

At this stage, the scar slowly heals and stitches are removed from the stump (the part of the limb that remains after the amputation).

After the amputation of the limb, there is pronounced swelling of the stump and adjacent tissues, which is a normal reaction of the body to surgical intervention.

During healing, the prevention of contractures – limitation of mobility in the joint – begins. Anti-edema therapy is also carried out, the results of which usually become apparent after a few weeks, the Ministry of Health explains.

3. Pre-prosthetic rehabilitation

When the scar has healed, pre-prosthetic rehabilitation begins with the involvement of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team of specialists.

At this stage, the following are important:

✅ physical exercises to preserve the amplitude of movements in the joints (the list of exercises should be determined by rehabilitators);

✅ carrying out compression therapy – bandaging with an elastic bandage or with the help of a compression stocking;

✅ scar massage, stump hygiene and phantom pain relief.

According to experts, proper compression improves blood circulation, reduces pain and shortens the adaptation period of the stump to the prosthesis. In parallel, the motor skills of the amputated limb are restored.

Also, during pre-prosthetic rehabilitation, the doctor must provide the patient with comprehensive information about all manufacturers of rehabilitation aids and the necessary documents for obtaining a prosthesis.

The list of prosthetic enterprises can be found on the website of the Ministry of Social Policy or on the dashboard via the link.

4. Prosthetics

The following can receive a free prosthesis in Ukraine:

✅ servicemen and law enforcement officers, veterans;

✅ civilians affected by the war;

✅ people with disabilities who acquired disabilities not due to combat; children with disabilities and children with musculoskeletal disorders.

It is not necessary to wait for the establishment of disability to receive a prosthesis.

This will require a conclusion that can be made by a medical commission, a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team (MDRK) or specialists of a medical and social expert commission (MSEK).

According to the Ministry of Health, the conclusion should take into account all the features and needs of the patient, indicating the characteristics of the rehabilitation tool.

Next, you should contact the social worker at the hospital, the Center for the provision of administrative services or the territorial administration of the Fund for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities.

You should have with you:

✅ a statement, an example of which is here;

✅ passport of a citizen of Ukraine or a document that replaces it;

✅ certificate of identification code assignment;

✅ for military personnel, an opinion of the Military Medical Commission (MMC) is required, for civilians – an opinion of the MSEK, medical advisory commission or MDRK;

✅ servicemen must also have a certificate from the commander of the military unit about the circumstances of the injury;

✅ certificate of UBD or veteran of military service (if available).

Documents can be sent through the electronic cabinet of the Centralized data bank on disability issues of the Ministry of Social Policy.

After the patient has chosen a prosthetic company, the interaction with the prosthetist begins.

On average, the production of a prosthesis takes 45 working days. The maximum waiting time from the moment of submission of documents to provision of a prosthesis is 3 months.

All services and products are provided to people free of charge – they are fully covered by the state budget, the Ministry of Health notes.

5. Prosthetic rehabilitation

After the prosthesis is made, the stage of prosthetic rehabilitation and adaptation comes.

Rehabilitation specialists who work with the patient must teach him to use the product, get used to it and help restore the motor activity of the limb.

With the consent of the person for whom the prosthesis was made, photo and video recording of the transfer process can be carried out during this stage.

“This allows the state to control the very fact of installing prostheses, and to improve control over their quality.”the ministry reports.

The amount of compensation for production leg prostheses ranges from 14 thousand hryvnias to about 856 thousand hryvnias.

Hand prostheses provide compensation in the amount from 17 thousand hryvnias to about 503 thousand hryvnias.

The maximum compensation for the cost of the prosthesis is 2 million hryvnias.

Earlier we talked about why a prosthesis is not a panacea and what you need to know about artificial arms and legs.