Rigid removable dressings for people who have amputations in Kiribati.

One of the major goals for the TRS for the beginning of 2006 was to ensure 100% of new trans-tibial amputees were provided with immediate post-operative visits and Removable Rigid Dressings. Most of the RRDs are done on the ward often with a crowd of onlookers. The TCH wards are completely open with the ocean breeze flowing through the wards to keeping them cool in the Pacific heat. The patient's caretaker sleeps under bed. Often there will singing or raucous laughter coming from the wards. This mane was giving a performance to patients and staff on his keyboard when we interrupted for his RRD application.

Home visits

Usually the highlight of the working fortnight is the home visit day. The prosthetic/orthotic team visits patients in their homes for assessments, casting and gait training. The only form of public transport in Kiribati is the mini bus. Many of our patients find it difficult to get into the bus, or even to get the bus to stop for them. The other alternative is a truck which can be very costly.

Much of the gait training is done in the patients' home environment. This provides a true picture of the obstacles they have to face. Many homes have coral floors, making it difficult for them to walk over with a SACH foot. They also spend most of their time sitting cross legged, making it difficult for them to wear their prostheses at this time.

The patient in this image had his first fitting one week prior to this photo being taken. Toare and Tebakaro encouraged him to attempt to walk around his home with the frame for assistance. However, by the end of the session he found it much easier to walk along holding the frame in the air instead of attempting to use it on the uneven ground.