Jaffna Jaipur Centre staff make vital contribution to workshop on amputations
At the Jaffna Jaipur centre many people who have undergone amputations are seen for assessment and fitting of prostheses. On occasion it is found that there are challenges faced in fitting prostheses due to the amputation stumps not being suitable for various reasons. In view of this, the suggestion was made that a workshop on amputations would create awareness among surgeons and surgical trainees of these issues. Many doctors carrying out major limb amputations are unaware of the postoperative challenges that amputees and staff at rehabilitation units face.
Dr.T.Gobyshanger, consultant orthopaedic surgeon who himself helps the Jaipur Centre and serves on the advisory committee, eagerly took up the suggestion and initiated the workshop titled ‘Do it Right the First time-All about Amputation’. This workshop done under the auspices of the Northern Chapter of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, the Jaffna Medical Association, the Sri Lanka Orthopaedic Association and the International College of Surgeons Sri Lanka Chapter was held on Monday 6th January at the auditorium in the Clinical Teaching and Research Block, Teaching Hospital, Jaffna. It was very well coordinated and organised by Dr.S.Vinojan,Consultant Vascular surgeon, with support from the Department of Surgery.
The workshop was attended by 34 participants from various hospitals in the Jaffna district and from the Northern Province. A range of important topics related to amputations were covered by an excellent group of clinicians that included Drs Vinojan and Nishanthan(vascular surgeons), Dr.Selvaganesh(plastic surgeon), Drs Gobyshanger and Sashikaran (orthopaedic surgeons) ,Drs Sutharshan and Matheivaanan (general surgeons) and Dr.Premakrishna (anaesthetist).
The Jaffna Jaipur Centre made a significant contribution too. Dr.Thayalan Ambalavanar (surgeon and advisory committee member) gave the introduction and explained the reasons for having such a workshop and also concluded the session by talking about the challenges faced during which he made the audience aware of the history and significant contribution that the Centre has made since 1987 in the rehabilitation of so many amputees.
Miss.T.Dhamayanthy (physiotherapist) and Mr.P.Sritharan(prosthetist) made extremely valuable contributions. Two amputees who have had prosthetic limbs fitted at the centre very kindly agreed to participate in the workshop. Using them as case studies both Dhamayanthy and Sritharan were able to explain to the participants the work involved from the time a patient arrives at the centre and the process of limb fitting and application. They had brought a few stockings and prostheses along which helped participants appreciate the after care and challenges faced in fitting amputees with artificial limbs. They were able to respond effectively to questions raised by the participants.
The success of this workshop has encouraged the organisers to conduct this on a regular basis in the future. The Jaffna Jaipur Centre can take some credit for making this happen.
Dr.Thayalan Ambalavanar
