Upper limb prosthetics in Ukraine reaches a new level

Stockholm, Gothenburg, Sweden, September 8, 2023 - Between September 4 to 15, 2023, Ukrainian specialists working in the field of limb prosthetics and related rehabilitation are undergoing intensive training in prosthetics of complex cases of upper limb amputation and occupational therapy. This significant event is organized by Protez Hub, an organization that has been actively promoting the development of this industry in Ukraine since 2014 on the basis of two Swedish clinics, TeamOlmed and Aktiv Ortopedteknik.

"It is an honor for us to support our Ukrainian colleagues and share our knowledge and experience. We hope that this exchange will help Ukraine, specialists and Ukrainians who have lost their limbs," says Steve Jonson, an experienced Swedish prosthetist-orthetist, representative of the TeamOlmed clinic.

The exchange is filled with theory and application of various technologies, the use of which can later be carried out in Ukraine within the framework of a state program funding with appropriate follow up.

Specialists from various institutions of Kyiv, Poltava, Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions are gaining practical experience to apply it in Ukraine.

"High-quality prosthetics of the upper limbs is now in high demand in Ukraine due to the war, so we are grateful to Protez Hub and partners for the opportunity to improve our qualifications and help more patients closer to their permanent place of residence," shares Iryna Tkach, prosthetist of the Dnipro State Prosthetic and Orthopedic Institute enterprises.

The absolute majority of Ukrainians who have lost limbs receive prosthetics in Ukraine. 

As noted by Antonina Kumka, Director of Protez Hub, the ratio of amputees due to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is 35% upper limbs to 65% lower limbs (while in peacetime the ratio is usually 10% to 90%). This has put an additional burden on the industry, as fabrication of prosthetic arms requires special knowledge and experience, and takes longer than the manufacture of lower limb prostheses. Specialists at several prosthetic enterprises had to pay more attention to the possibilities of upper limb prosthetics. 

Specialists, who will soon return to Ukraine with improved knowledge and skills, will be able to significantly relieve the system and provide a significant number of patients who need it with high-quality upper limb prostheses.

The event was organized in cooperation with CO Patients of Ukraine and Help Ukraine Gothenburg within the project "Rehabilitation of war injuries in Ukraine" with the assistance of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and with the support of Switzerland, the European Union, Nova Ukraine and Ossur.

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